No gun for you....when off duty that is.

[ileus]

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/12/state_trooper_cant_have_gun_wh.html



Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael L. Keyes is in an odd situation.

When on duty, he can carry a gun.

Yet while off duty, he is barred by law from possessing any firearms, because seven years ago he suffered from deep depression, repeatedly tried to kill himself by taking drugs and was involuntarily committed for mental health treatment.

Keyes' latest attempt to be allowed to have a gun all the time was rejected this week by the state Superior Court.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope he doesn't go off the deep end while on duty.

[Prophet 451]

1. Most of us never "go off teh deep end" at all

The vast majority of mentally ill people are more likely to be a danger to themselves than to others. That's why the rule barring mentally ill people from having firearms is a good one. In this case, it's being taken to ridiculous extremes because most mentally ill people will also recover from their illness and go on to live perfectly normal lives.

[littlewolf]

2. if the dr's have taken him off his meds.

the court should take that into consideration.
will the MH professionals testify that he is over
the depression that he suffered from?

it is cases like this that keeps ppl from seeking MH help
in the first place.

[X_Digger]

3. Our laws need to be updated.

The 1968 GCA was written when the typical 'treatment' for mental illness was involuntary commitment, frequently for decades of a patient's life. There was little understanding about actual treatment- if you were broken, you could never be fixed.

That's a perception that lingers in popular culture today. However, we've come a long way in effectively treating depression and suicidal ideation among other mental conditions that might make one a danger to themselves or others.

The GCA needs to be updated to match the current realities in clinical treatment. It's not an easy challenge, but it needs to be done.