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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Guns v. mental stability: just to introduce some other
considerations:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Who determines who is accursed with the kind of mental
illness that is apt to result in being a serious danger to others when
armed? How much accursed does the potential shooter have to be in order to
deny the right to bear arms? What is the reliability of such a
diagnosis?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Is a person with severe anger management problems (or as
we used to say: has a quick, violent temper) considered to be mentally
ill? A danger a serious danger to others when armed? How bad would
the anger management problem need to be in order to deny the right to bear
arms? Who and how is this decided?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>The question of denying constitutional rights, any
rights, just not gun ownership rights, on the basis of a mental health
diagnoses/problems is seriously complicated one. There are probably
some extreme cases that would seem reasonable, but what about the vast majority
of other cases? Remember that at one time in the USSR, people who
expressed anti-government sentiments could be sent to some horrible mental
hospitals.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>This also relates to the rights of those disabled
persons who are called "severely mentally challenged." Apparently they are
not allowed to have sex since in most jurisdictions they are considered to be
unable to make a rational enough decision to give permission. So, in
addition to suffering an egregious disability, they are prohibited from enjoying
a simple pleasure that would add some positive, rewarding experiences to their
lives.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Mental competence/stability as a criterion for denying
rights in order to protect society/individuals: I don't have an answer
though I have thought about it a lot. I suspect there isn't a nice or a
legal one that would be acceptable to the majority answer, but I'm open to
hearing suggestions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV><FONT face=Verdana>
<DIV><BR>Wayne A. Fox<BR>1009 Karen Lane<BR>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow, ID
83843</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>208
882-7975<BR></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=sunilramalingam@hotmail.com
href="mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com">Sunil Ramalingam</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision 2020</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 29, 2011 12:33
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] that Jared guy
and mental health</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
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Well then, I don't know what you're trying to say. You seem to be connecting
mental health with gun ownership, which I think is reasonable. <BR><BR>But
you're also saying you don't think people should lose the right to possess
firearms.<BR><BR>But then you do hold a major grudge against ownership of
automatic and semi-automatic firearms.<BR><BR>From what you've written, I
don't know where you come down in the end. I too am against the irresponsible
use of firearms. How do we make that happen? <BR><BR>I think some people
should not have the legal right to own firearms. I don't have a problem with
the law saying certain felons should not have them, though I want people to
have the ability to come back to court and demonstrate they've earned the
right again. I think it's reasonable to say that people who are diagnosed with
mental illnesses can lose the right to own firearms. So I don't think the
right is absolute.<BR><BR>So that's where I am. I didn't ask the question to
make you angry, though your use of capitals at the end of your reply suggests
I failed.<BR><BR>Sunil<BR><BR>> Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:01:02
-0800<BR>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] that Jared guy and mental
health<BR>> From: thansen@moscow.com<BR>> To:
sunilramalingam@hotmail.com<BR>> CC: vision2020@moscow.com<BR>> <BR>>
Sunil inquired:<BR>> <BR>> "At what point do you propose people should
lose the right to possess<BR>> firearms?"<BR>> <BR>> NEVER,
Sunil.<BR>> <BR>> I never have, and never will, even
suggested/implied/mumbled that people<BR>> should be denied their second
amendment rights to possess firearms<BR>> (although I do hold a major
grudge against ownership of automatic and<BR>> semi-alutomatic firearms).
However, I do support RESPONSIBLE<BR>> possession/use of firearms. I don't
know how many times i have<BR>> suggested/encourage/demanded responsible
possession/use of firearms.<BR>> <BR>> In this particular instance
(Laughner), responsible use of firearms goes<BR>> hand-in-hand with mental
health.<BR>> <BR>> With the proliferation of public access to
semi-automatic (in some cases .<BR>> . . automatic) weapons, coupled with
the reduction of health and welfare<BR>> funding (which includes mental
health care) in the state of Idaho, the<BR>> question is no longer "if"
there will be another Laughner, but "when".<BR>> <BR>> I, myself, own a
couple shotguns; a Benelli 12-guage pump shotgun, as well<BR>> as a Savage
410/.22 over-under single shot that my grandfather gave to me<BR>> as a kid
(this gun is ancient).<BR>> <BR>> So, you see, Sunil. I am NOT against
ownership of weapons, just the<BR>> irresponsible possession/use and/or
ownership of sutomatic/semi-automatic<BR>> weapons.<BR>> <BR>>
OK?<BR>> <BR>> Tom Hansen<BR>> Moscow, Idaho<BR>> <BR>>
Sidebar, V-peeps: Does anybody know of a good/reliable gunsmith that
can<BR>> help me out?<BR>> <BR>> The Savage 410/.22 has a broken
retaining spring that secures the handgrip<BR>> to the barrel and upper
receiver group.<BR>> <BR>> http://www.TomandRodna.com/Rifle.htm<BR>>
<BR>> The retaining spring was broken (and lost) about 30 years
ago.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>
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