Could an "ex" abuse this by making a statement the individual was of unsound mind? Quite so. A liberal neighbor? Not so much.
I had an neighbor come to the point he no longer controlled his actions, and the first manifestation to be seen publicly was taking furniture out of the house and setting it around in the yard. Some larger pieces, too, along with knocking on doors all over the neighborhood but being unable to rationally explain what he wanted.
At that point his difficulty was obvious and he wasn't violent. Not the kind of person that we fear may need to be involved under these laws. It's the ones who go around mumbling under their breath, getting engaged in anger issues, having a divorce thrust on them, separation from their home, loss of job - those are the typical events and progression which we have seen lead up to violence, especially committed by firearms.
Got to ask, do we think the courts aren't aware of the profile and it's eventual result? In the past we've had no regulatory mechanism to intercede. Just stand back and wait for a call out to bring body bags.
Given that serious issue, just what do we do? People go rogue for whatever reason, and what do we read a week later in the news? There were signals and those in near proximity knew very well something was going wrong - yet there was nothing to do for it.
We've been agonizing over it since Columbine and for the most part the "don't touch my rights" isn't fixing the problem. Well, the less gun friendly states have obviously started to deal with it - like it or not - and the experiment in how we handle intervention for those slowly losing logical grip of their faculties is going to be in the public view.
In other states the neighbor will have to continue to break down the door and shoot the demented father trying to drown his children.
Which is the better solution? You tell me, I don't disagree that a legal process can be manipulated and abused. The courts see that happen with DNA turnovers, a criminal confessing two states away, whatever. Our system isn't perfect, BUT IT IS THE BEST THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER.
Ask any Eastern European immigrant why they like to tear out their roots and come here.
I believe we are quite a ways from seeing this manipulated by false testimony, no recourse to appeal, and blatant incarceration because a secret court says so. Not withstanding the fact we actually are doing that under the Patriot Act, ostensibly against "terrorists." There is, however, one thing anyone of us can do - don't look and act crazy, just like you should avoid looking and acting terrorist. If it really is a concern, then maybe your own conscience need an attitude check. Back away from life, stop seeing things so black and white, take a vacation from the stress.
When things get so bad - state wide or even nationally - you'll know what to do then. Until - support your causes without making them an icon to be revered. We only have the rights we exercise, go have fun with your guns in an approved or at least channeled manner. When you hear of an actual local case, not the kind some news outlets slant a story about (both sides are equally guilty) then look into it and make your opinion known to those decision makers.
Lawyers being lawyers, don't for a minute think they are all about the government having absolute authority that cuts them out of an appeal process. No sirree, they will be more than helpful in explaining just exactly how you drag the issue thru the courts. It might cost the defendant his savings, yes, but it also costs the "persecutors" their share, too. Your best defense is a good offense, take them for every dime you can even if it goes in somebody else's pocket. In the extremely rare case where someone was too insensitive to see their behavior triggering a backlash and creating this problem, guess what? They were too dense to see it. They brought it on themselves, which is usually the case when it comes down to the final answer.
In the perspective of preventing gun violence, that might save a life, we will never know. What will will know are how many this could affect and how their story turns out. That is either going to be acceptable by and large, or not, but doing nothing at all hasn't worked as this issue isn't going away.
Stand back and let the libs screw this up and we get answers. If it's in your state weigh the risk, most of us will tell you that you are likely the frog in the pan, we saw the water getting too hot long ago.
