Mother Jones: Senate Bill Would Allow "Mentally Incapacitated" Vets to Buy Guns

[marmar]

Senate Bill Would Allow "Mentally Incapacitated" Vets to Buy Guns
— By Corbin Hiar | Mon November 16, 2009 3:03 AM PST


Major Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 people at Fort Hood Army base, has been described by former colleagues as "psychotic." As more details emerge about Hasan's troubled state, gun safety advocates are launching fresh attacks on a Senate bill they say would make it easier for mentally unstable veterans to buy firearms.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) says his "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act" will protect veterans' gun rights. But the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence calls it a "dangerous" proposal that could allow "over 100,000 mentally incapacitated or incompetent persons" to buy guns—people who would previously have been barred from doing so by the Veterans Administration (VA).

With debate over Fort Hood still raging on cable news, one might think that Burr might try to quietly shelve the measure, whose co-sponsors include Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.). Instead, Burr fired back at the Brady Campaign in an interview with Fox News, accusing its president, Paul Helmke, of using the tragedy to "exploit the senseless murder of American soldiers in the quest to secure personal triumph." ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/11/senate-bill-would-allow-mentally-incapacitated-vets-buy-guns

[gratuitous]

1. By all means, Sen. Burr

Let us never exploit senseless murders by considering sensible countermeasures. The holy relics of the High Church of Redemptive Violence must be readily available at all times to all who need the comfort of their sacred presence. The human sacrifices that are occasionally made are simply the price of appeasing a just God of Violence.

[valerief]

2. As long as they can't get abortions, then that's okay.

:sarcasm:

[marmar]

9. Touche!!!

:P

[Ozymanithrax]

3. Just allowing "Mentally Incapacitated" Vets the right to buy guns appears to violate the equal

protection clause of the 14th ammendment.

All the "Mentally Incapacitated" should be allowed to own guns and premptivly declared not guilty by reason of insantiy.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

I know a Vietnam vet. A perninious, disabled, mentally cooked alcoholic. Unable to work both physically and mentally. PTSD with nightmares. Only 63. Loves guns. LOVES guns. Has a collection from Germany. He got his yellow card way before he totally lost his mind.

And he has a vicious temper. Toward family, friends, and . . . democrats/liberals. Watches FOX News as often as possible, absorbs the lies, and becomes agitated.

Fourteen years ago, he sold his SUV to his 17 year old nephew, took the money and then claimed he wasn't paid, and aimed his loaded rifle in the direction of his nephew (who loved him for whatever reason) after screaming nonsense.

This man is EXACTLY WHY Burr's "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act" should not be enacted. If mentally incapacitated people are legally prohibited from purchasing guns, then their status as veterans should be irrelevent. They are still unable to safely maintain and use their weapons. All it takes is one impulsive moment and an available and working weapon, and someone's dead or maimed.

[rrneck]

5. Ironic

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/oathofenlist.htm
Armed Forces Oath of Enlistment
In the Armed Forces EXCEPT the National Guard (Army or Air)

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

In the National Guard (Army or Air)Note: Frequently referred to as the "militia".
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of (STATE NAME) against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of (STATE NAME) and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

And of course for those who are expecting it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Why are we having this conversation?

[Lorien]

6. This just about takes the cake for gun nut insanity

Burr probably figures that he can't go wrong by pairing beloved vets with even more beloved guns. I'm disgusted that DLCer Webb would sign on to such an act.

[marmar]

7. So true.....

..... and someone just un-rec'd, so there are obviously some DUers who think it's perfectly fine for someone with severe PTSD to run around armed to the teeth.

[baldguy]

8. Anything to appease the gun worshipers & the death merchants that cater to them.