People with diagnosed mental health issues should not have firearms

[Ohdearanotheryear]

The latest shooting in the US. Ex military man with mental health issues shot and killed at least 22 people in Maine.

Known mental health issues and known to law enforcement yet still allowed to keep his guns.

It's on CNN on TV

Its there its not made up it happened (sadly another in a line of shootings).

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/active-shooter-in-lewiston-maine-states-second-largest-city-police-say-5257e3b4

To the 11% that think I'm being unreasonable may I ask why someone with mental health issues needs a firearm?

Self defence? To kill others as the shooter did? To hunt? What need? Since pro gun lobby usually state that a shooter had 'mental health issues ' and shouldn't be compared to people who don't?

I don't think anyone should have firearms. Lots of mental health goes undiagnosed.

Fair comment.

I just wondered if someone when diagnosed with struggling with mental health issues should keep their weapons. This is the result of that.

Nobody should have firearms. Plenty of US shooters with no MH issues or at least no diagnosed MH issues.

If you made a rule like this, it would probably just stop people seeking medical help for MH in case their guns got taken away. Unfortunately.

No private citizen needs a firearm, full stop.

Obviously no one should have a gun.

I'm not sure of the exact details in this case so don't necessarily disagree with you. I just don't know how they'd police it, which mental health conditions, who decides, can they apply for them back etc. I'd far rather a blanket ban but realistically that will never happen.

Are you talking about this in a UK context? If so, I believe it's very much dependent on which mental health condition, which is as it should be. Eg well controlled depression should not prohibit gun ownership in the UK (where licences have to be renewed regularly). Doing so would just lead to people not reporting conditions to their gp and therefore not getting treatment. Much worse.

If you are talking about the US, well I had better not comment on what I think of their gun laws.

This.

Obviously it’s a big talking point every time a mass shooting happens in the US (which unfortunately is very frequently). But it never changes.

Nobody with or without mental health issues should have a gun full stop. When will the US learn ffs the amount of shootings is unreal. They need to change the constitution.

You're not unreasonable for that, you're unreasonable for stating the bloody obvious and for putting a non-AIBU thread into AIBU.

Thanks for responses.

I think getting rid of guns for many in the US is a big no. However, once someone is showing a diagnosed mental health illness then the guns should be removed. Agree problems since perhaps some/many/all won't seek help.

It's awful yet again that innocent people are shot by a man that shouldn't have a gun/guns

No one should have a gun. End of.

Fair comment.

Many Americans believe in the right to bear arms though.

Indeed.
A blanket ban is highly unlikely.

Obviously the gun laws in America are absurd.

But I believe that some states, including Maine, actually do already have a provision in place to remove guns for mental health reasons.

If what is being reported is correct, that this man was in a mental health hospital for hearing voices until a couple of weeks ago, it does seem like the law wasn't applied (I've no idea how it works in practice, does the person need to tell a dr they have a gun for example), or is it impossible to enforce because they can just go out and buy a new one anyway. Rather than the law not existing at all.

Generally speaking though, I don't think anyone should have a gun.

I.think the Gun laws in America are incredibly lax
Mental health issues cover a huge spectrum however from anxiety
To psychosis so.I don't think there should be an arbitrary rule on mental.health issues alone

This.

People shouldn't have guns full stop.

Owning guns and mass shootings are part of the culture of the USA, deeply embedded. Main cause of death in children now, isn’t it? Overtook car accidents and cancer.
So applying logic won’t work. The only shock is when a mass shooting occurs and it’s not in the States.

In that case the situation of mass shootings will continue then.

The alleged comment is that he made threats to kill. Massive failure to remove his weapons if that is correct.

My thoughts to the victims families and the injured

No one should have guns. Other than possibly a few farmers.

But what's your line on "mental health issues"? Anyone who has ever taken an antidepressant? Anyone who has had anxiety? Only people who have required inpatient care?

Wow 'the main cause of death in children ' that's dreadful and it names me wonder how many deaths are too many before the law might be changed!

NorthStarRising · Today 09:36
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Owning guns and mass shootings are part of the culture of the USA, deeply embedded”

As was slavery, for example, pretty much from the get go. They banned that in the end.

Because something is embedded doesn’t mean it’s ok and can’t be changed.