General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Critical detail about the navy yard shooting. [View all]maddezmom
(135,060 posts)Although he recently began seeking mental health treatment through the Veterans Administration, seeking treatment and even having a diagnosed mental illness dont disqualify someone from purchasing a gun.
Since 1968, federal law has prohibited the sale of guns to anyone declared mentally unfit. But first, a court has to decide someone is unfita very high standard. Then, the residents state is supposed to supply the mental-health records to a Federal Bureau of Investigation database, created in 1998 to help carry out background checks of would-be gun buyers.
A diagnosis of mental illness by itself isnt enough to bar a gun purchase, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which enforces gun laws. Voluntary commitments and mental-health assessments are not disqualifiers either.
A person has to be adjudicated mentally ill or be involuntarily committed to enter the prohibited category.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/09/17/aaron-alexiss-gun-purchase-in-virginia-appears-legal/