You say “gun nut” like it’s a bad thing
Via Brittney, the Nashville local, err, alt weekly (I guess?) has a bit on folks who are bonkers buying guns:
The dangerously mentally ill can buy guns in Tennessee in violation of federal law—no questions asked—because the state doesn’t send their names to the FBI national instant background check system. That’s according to state officials in various departments who blame each other for the failure and don’t seem especially interested in doing anything about it.
As long as they have no criminal record, even mentally ill people who have been involuntarily committed to mental institutions as a danger to themselves or others can go to a gun store on the day of their release, pass the FBI’s background check and walk out with a firearm in Tennessee, officials say.
Tennessee has its own system, the Tennessee Instant Check System and does not utilize the NICS. I’m pretty sure each database can reference the other one but I’m not so sure as to bet more than a beer on it. Tennessee is one of many (30, IIRC) states that have no standard for reporting a case of the crazies to the instant check system. So, reporting to the system is, frankly, mostly optional and probably not done.
And here’s the deal: when people who are dee dee dee buy guns through a dealer, they are breaking the law by lying on ATF Form 4473. Criminals lie, shocking, I know. I’m not sure another law will affect people predisposed to breaking them. So, the question then is: how do we get a list of people the state has decided ain’t right in the head? Beats me. But I’m certain that various mental health professionals will object on the grounds of abortion err privacy rights.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
How about the crazies get a “microchip” implant that can be scanned for.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
[…] Say Uncle brings up the privacy issues involved but I think it is imperative that the state fix the loophole here. It shouldn’t be that hard. […]
May 16th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Hey, Massachusetts only sends in a list of about 10-15% of convicted felons. Why don’t we start there.
May 16th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
As I’ve said before, Involuntary committment is a legal proceeding. It would just be a matter of the court system sending that information off to the check system. Of course, there would also need to be a mechanism for someone to get their name removed as well. I’m not saying I’m in favor of it one way or another, but those LEGAL records are already out there, w/o asking “mental health professionals,” like myself, to violate any confidentiality.