Gun grabbers need to pump the brakes on firearms bans based on 'mental illness'

One of the lies spread soon after the Parkland, Fla., school shooting was that President Trump had reversed an Obama-era ban preventing the “severely mentally ill” from purchasing firearms. That said, we’re learning there were plenty of signs that shooter Nikolas Cruz was a danger to others and should not have been armed.

The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake on Monday posted the results of a Suffolk poll showing that 76 percent of respondents agree that anyone who has been treated for mental illness should be banned from owning a firearm.

https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/status/968189450093256707

Let’s pump those brakes a little … anyone who has been treated for a mental illness? If you saw a therapist about a bout of depression, you’re forever banned from owning a firearm? Let’s define some terms, OK?

Looks like America has quite an education coming on what conditions are considered mental illness, versus what is considered "a danger to self or others". https://t.co/CdggZ7PhQ0

— Sandy 〽️ (@RightGlockMom) February 26, 2018

Even the ACLU agreed that those Obama-era restrictions were a step too far, bypassing due process and applying the term “mentally ill” without an examination.

What qualifies as treatment for mental illness? https://t.co/LALh7eluyM

— NeoN: Automataster (@neontaster) February 26, 2018

"Anybody who has been treated for mental illness" is, what, 1/4 of the country? https://t.co/aNxuyjWNxJ

— Josh Barro (@jbarro) February 26, 2018

1 in 5 adults experience mental health concerns in a year. https://t.co/bXP801ObTE

— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) February 26, 2018

As much as I believe in gun control, as much as I am not sure *anyone* should have guns… all this will do is deter people who need psychological help from getting it, because they'd rather have their guns. https://t.co/4y07Aqv0Ac

— Robyn Is Not A Chicken, You're A Turkey (@RobynElyse) February 26, 2018

I'm certain that the vast majority of these people have no idea what "treated for mental illness" actually encompasses. There's a universe of difference btw "paranoid schizophrenia" and "seasonal affective disorder." https://t.co/gsSN3NQdOF

— The Nats Won The World Series (@EsotericCD) February 26, 2018

this is why popular outrage still shouldn't dictate policy https://t.co/FtfAGdJVQ7

— hilbert's infinite airbnb (@vogon) February 26, 2018

Do people not realized the difference between being "treated" for a mental illness and "adjudicated" mentally unfit?

This is why rights aren't up for votes, let alone poling. https://t.co/K1rkytRck6

— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) February 26, 2018

My 8-year old daughter with ADD could never own a gun in her life? It's almost as if we don't actually think these feel-good positions through… ? https://t.co/Qv4rQvJY1W

— Matthew DesOrmeaux ⚜ (@authoridad) February 26, 2018

This is why we should never rush to just "do something." https://t.co/phkypnUJN2

— ?. ???? ????? (@TheAlanNoble) February 26, 2018

But you heard those young activists from Douglas Stoneman High … they want ACTION … NOW!

Even Ana Marie Cox isn’t having it.

My fellow nutjobs, we need to talk to our normie pals about this. Lots of liberals and progressives thinks this is a “common sense” gun law. Help them to understand: this is discrimination, this is stigma, and *this won’t help.*

Some stats to follow. https://t.co/xP3UtzEGCw

— ana marie c?x (@anamariecox) February 26, 2018

-mentally ill people are 12x more likely to be the victim of violent crime (incl gun crime)
-mentally ill people are more likely to be a victim of violent crime than commit one
-most people who commit a violent gun crime (incl suicide) have no mental health history /1

— ana marie c?x (@anamariecox) February 26, 2018

-mass shootings by ppl with mental illness are less than 1% of all firearm homicides annually
-ppl mental illnesses who do commit violent gun crimes do so at a rate lower than those with no mental illness
– only about 4% of ALL violent crime can be attributed to mental illness /2

— ana marie c?x (@anamariecox) February 26, 2018

“What about suicide?”
-Suicidal ideations are typically short-lived, waiting periods have been effective in lowering gun suicide rates
-most ppl who try to suicide by gun would not be caught in a mental health screening—they aren’t chronically mentally ill, just in crisis /3

— ana marie c?x (@anamariecox) February 26, 2018

-best predictors of violent behavior is PAST violent behavior and (just statically speaking) chemical dependency
-imho: I think you can use those facts w/o discrimination: use BEHAVIOR/consequences not diagnoses. Like, if you have DUI, maybe yeah, a higher bar to get a gun /4

— ana marie c?x (@anamariecox) February 26, 2018

-sure, a record of violent behavior should make it REALLY HARD to get a gun
-I am in principle against lifetime ban on gun ownership. Making it difficult, temporary ban, tracking ownership are great intermediate steps.
-other countries aren’t any less mentally ill than us /5

— ana marie c?x (@anamariecox) February 26, 2018

The problem isn’t who has the guns, it’s THE GUNS. /Fin

— ana marie c?x (@anamariecox) February 26, 2018

Well, we’d argue it’s the person behind the gun, but fair enough. The point is this: keep a close eye on any legislation being rushed through proposing to ban the “mentally ill” from owning firearms.

Related:

BLAME TRUMP: Shannon Watts spreads bogus talking point about the 'severely mentally ill' and guns https://t.co/BYADvC94DQ

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 15, 2018