after I explain the consequences of seeking mental health treatment to my clients, NONE will ever go voluntarily.
Before anyone responds to that with analysis, reason, and consideration of nuanced details, remember:
Most people don't know what the law actually says - any law. Per the above quote, consider that few (especially those whose head isn't working right) will find out what such a law says, what exactly that means for their situation, and how to address & refute unfavorable outcomes.
All that will come out to most people is "see a shrink, lose your guns." The details and nuances of the law is practically irrelevant.
Participants in this thread, intelligent people who can address this issue, can't even agree on what's happening; how much less understanding and rational consideration will come from someone who, say, wants to see a shrink about ongoing anxiety attacks, but won't because "I might lose my guns" - and that because they're too tired & skittish from prolonged inadequate sleep?
Methinks the correct view of this pending legislation is: would it have stopped Cho? Answer - NO. At best, he may have been slowed down a bit, not buying from a store, and having to paw thru the classifieds instead for a private, and still legal, purchase.
This legislation, while understandable, can only culminate in:
- ALL gun purchases must be via background check
- ANY court-related mental-health issues will hinder, if not prevent, a purchase
- ALL purchase records will be recorded long-term, so that any court-related mental-health issue WILL result in review of gun ownership, if not outright confiscation.
- Next up will be every other "have you ever ..." disqualification listed on the "yellow form", with all the background check, Big Brother database monitoring, compulsory registration of arms explicitly for potential confiscation, and general public misunderstanding of the details leading to generic non-cooperation and grey/black-market activities.
And on top of all this, gun owners get NOTHING in return for support of this legislation. Not even "you've got registration, permits, and licenses three times over, a proven upstanding citizen being closely monitored, so I guess we will let you carry in the classroom lest another VT occur."