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Published Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 | 2:16 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 | 3:43 p.m.
Nevada mental health patients involuntarily committed to state psychiatric hospitals are rarely being added to a federal database that would restrict them from purchasing firearms, a state senator said Thursday. State Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, said the rate in which those committed are included in the federal database is “shockingly low and reveals a total system failure.” “Individuals suffering from mental illness who pose a threat to themselves or others should be prohibited from purchasing a firearm,” Kieckhefer said in a statement. “Federal and state laws have been in effect for years to enforce this restriction. Unfortunately, here in Nevada, ...
This story has been edited to clarify that the statistics are based on petitions for commitment to a mental health facility.
I notice the article is completely silent on why the patients were not entered up until now. Could it be laws blocking this? or a lack of funding?
So I did a little more research in the RJ and fish wrap and got a little more detail (note to Sun writing staff). This legislator is complaining that people who have had hearings and been adjudicated not a harm to themselves or others can still buy guns (he seems to believe that the accusation of mental illness is what should determine suitability). I can't help but wonder how he would feel if we applied the same standard to the suitability of our elected officials (remember retardation could be considered a mental condition).
As usual, we do our part. Remember, that whack legislator who threatened to kill another one still has his gun(s).
so Nevada Republican State Sen. Ben Kieckhefer hates the 2nd Amendment AND supports Obama s plans for grabbing all our guns, right gun nuts??
Senator Ben Kieckhefer - you can thank the NRA for that action.
The NRA also opposes micro printing. This is where a microscopic ID number is put onto the head of the gun's firing pin. Spent ammunition can be identified with the gun used in the crime about 95% of the time.
The NRA does not want guns used in crimes to be identified. They prefer all gun IDs to be anonymous. They call this "2nd Amendment Rights", the right to commit a crime and use the Constitution to eliminate evidence. The NRA and Taliban have a lot in common.