The standard is high, and the fact is they don't need guns for the severe range of problems they face. They need various means of protection from themselves and others, including the system itself, and law enforcement in particular.
It's part of the mitigation process to prevent sending them to jail or prison, where they will deteriorate and be in danger from more able inmates. If it was not in place, those individuals acts while incompetent would send them straight to jail. The statute is about meeting the needs of the total person in a progressive manner as part of civilized society.
But it's not really about gun rights, so let's not get diverted here by saying that gun violence is by mentally ill persons. Many of those that go through Mental Health Court have never owned a gun, their property destruction or assaults are based on what they can do without any weapon in hand when in a crisis.
It is a red herring regarding gun control, as these folks aren't in a position to own guns for the most part. The families, advocates and public defenders for persons in that position are fighting to get treatment in a non-punitive milieu within the least restrictive setting. It is intended to help the person, not control the access to guns.
This is a non-issue as far as legislation and should NOT be cited as a panacea for gun violence. This was the argument of the NRA after Newtown, inappropriate to this group's SOP. And I hope that is not your intention here, please. I have found you to be a respectful and serious poster in other forums.
Family dynamics and mental health was a factor there, but the public is not interested in gun fetish talk about capacity, or who is mentally ill. Most people suffering these afflictions are not violent to others, but their illness impacts those around them.
Guns have one purpose, and the NRA and GOA have muddied the issues for the sake of profits and sales. Not one word they say or position they take is valid, IMO, because of the context.
They refuse to take responsibility for the Koch - ALEC legislation destabilizing society as a whole. ALEC is dismantling civil government state by state, and Koch funded media incites armed revolution.
They want guns all over the place to create chaos. Then they will push the masses to accept authoritarian rule by theocracy or corporatism. This must be resisted at all costs by the intellectual, organizational power of the Democratic party and gun control is part of that, not mental health.
Although we can argue the insanity of the Alex Jones types who want to shoot down drones and conduct guerrilla war, that has nothing to do with Newtown or the laws of Washington state.
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