Bipolar, and Firearms..?
I know someone that has been declared bipolar, and am fairly certain
they have several firearms. Just wondering where the law might stand
on this issue.
I would think it illegal, and googling it didn't produce much.
they have several firearms. Just wondering where the law might stand
on this issue.
I would think it illegal, and googling it didn't produce much.
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They can only be denied firearm ownership if they have been declared mentally incompetent or are on medication. But the doc would have to turn them in to the state as they do for people suffering seizures.[:0][:0] 0 -
Bipolar folks are more likely to kill themselves while in the "down" or depressed state than hurt others.[:0][:0] 0 -
I know several people that own firearms and are bipolar.
IIRC the major problem is being sent to an actual mental instituion. Your typical bipolar sufferer is far from being locked up.
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quote:Originally posted by sig232
They can only be denied firearm ownership if they have been declared mentally incompetent or are on medication. But the doc would have to turn them in to the state as they do for people suffering seizures.[:0][:0]
From what I understand, this individual is on some heavy duty
meds, and know for a fact this person is very unstable and should NOT
have guns. Don't think he's ever been institutionalized, but has
needed to be since a child, but his mommy covers for him. Btw he's 55., couldn't make it on his own, and currently living with his mommy.0 -
ouch... that is pretty severe.
On one hand the Pro 2nd Amendment side of my little brain says "So what? Is he not still protected by his Constitutional Rights? Shouldn't he be allowed to own firearms as it is his given RIGHT under our Constitution." Then the rational side kicks in a says "No need for him to have those if that is the case."
Sounds like he is pretty messed up.0 -
This might surprise ya, it sure did me. I have a close friend who is bi polar, and he received a CCW here in Michigan with a letter from his doctor. In the first place I'm surprised that the board would even consider it with his mental health history. Secondly I cant imagine why his doctor would write him that letter stating that he believes he is safe to carry a conceled weapon. As I see it his doctor really put his butt on the line. If the guy stays on his medication he is fine, but if stops taking it he falls out of his tree, and has to go to the boobie hatch till he returns to earth. I still have a hard time believing that one. 0 -
They have to be declaired mentally incompatent by a doctor and/or a judge.
Medication has nothing to do with it as alot of people take those meds for different reasons. Now the exception would be if they are takeing heavy sedation types of medications such as the types that would keep them from driving.
Biggest clue to this is the question on the form when you buy a gun. It asks if you have been "declaired mentally incompatent" not if you have been "diagnosed with a mental disorder".
Probly close to 75% of the population could be diagnossed with some sort of mental disorder.[;)]0 -
Here in Mi. one of the disqualifying factors is, in addition to being diagnosed with a mental illness, being institutionalized without ones consent, which he has been. Thats why its so surprising. 0 -
I would think "bipolar", by definition, would be a "mental impairment", or "incompident" enough that guns should not
be allowed.
When a convicted felon can be refused this right...Even if their
crime had nothing to do with guns, they are stripped of this
right.
But yet, by definition, bipolar are known to have uncontrolable and
often violent mood swings..they can have guns..? Yet one more thing
that just don't quite compute..to me.0 -
You've got to be very, very bad before they take & break your guns![:D] 0 -
just offer to buy them.... 0 -
My heart goes out to you. I had to deal with this issue this past 4th of July. My friend wasn't bipolar, but does suffer from PTSD from the Gulf War.
Long story short, he decided one day, after a fight with his now ex-wife, that he was going to kill himself. He took a Lorcin L380 (thankfully they're pieces of crap) and drove up to the mountains to do himself in. His wife called us and asked us to help. We managed, after several hours on the phone, to get him to come home and give it up. His wife, while we were talking to him, dialed 9-1-1.
He eventually came home and due to the 9-1-1 call, I was the first male that the LEOs saw and I found myself laying face down on very hot pavement in front of his house. The guns were confiscated (and returned a week later) and he was put on suicide watch for as long as the law would allow.
The wife filed for divorce and the guns wound up in my safe until just before Christmas, when the wife was able to find a buyer for the Lorcin (sucker) and the Mossberg 500. He doesn't have any guns anymore, and I'm about 99% sure that he couldn't qualify for the Insta-Check right now if he tried to get new ones.
He's a good guy, they're both great friends... I think your friend is okay legally-speaking until he does something to get him in trouble. However, it may be wise to talk him out of keeping guns around for now -- perhaps you'd offer your safe for them in the meantime?0 -
quote:Originally posted by sav99
Here in Mi. one of the disqualifying factors is, in addition to being diagnosed with a mental illness, being institutionalized without ones consent, which he has been. Thats why its so surprising.
There are many degrees of Bipolar problems. Many, many people suffer from that problem and are completely functional. Its the ones that are unable to hold jobs for any lenght of time and have mood swings like a monkey on a rope that are not functional and require periodic hospitalization and medication. Mental health professionals are required by law to notify authorities to add you to the list. But if you are being treated on an outpatient basis it doesn't always happen unless you have an encounter with the legal system or are committed to an institution.[:0][:0]0 -
It's not illegal as far as I know, though it might be a bad decision to say the least. 0 -
I am tripolar. I have three guns. One for each of ya! 0 -
I suspect Get-R-Done is pretty close to correct. There are a lot of us out there with some sort of mental illness.
Could we say J. Edgar Hoover was without a mental illness?0 -
Legally for him to be prohibited on the federal level from owning a firearm he would have to have either:
(1) Been INVOLUNTARILLY commited to a mental institution. or
(2) Been ajudicated mentally defective by a court of law (found not guilty by reason of insanity, etc.)
Simply being on meds won't prohibit a person nomatter how fruit-loops they are. Also, since medical records are private people who fall into category 1 are almost never reported to the NICS system.
Instead of turning him in why don't you talk to him or his wife and try to buy the guns from him?0 -
I'm bipolar. I went below 60? South in 1964, including the South Pole. I didn't actually become bipolar until I went above 60? North somewhat later.
Who came up with that name and why? When it was manic depressive it made a little sense. What the hell does bipolar mean?0 -
quote:Originally posted by spryor
I would think "bipolar", by definition, would be a "mental impairment", or "incompident" enough that guns should not
be allowed.
When a convicted felon can be refused this right...Even if their
crime had nothing to do with guns, they are stripped of this
right.
But yet, by definition, bipolar are known to have uncontrolable and
often violent mood swings..they can have guns..? Yet one more thing
that just don't quite compute..to me.
There are varying degrees of bipolar symptoms just as there are degrees of say depression.0 -
If he is just bipolar, I wouldnt worry about it. If there is some other mental illness going on along with it then that is just something you need to evaluate. 0 -
The voices in my head tell me it's OK for him to have guns.[;)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by chappsyny
Legally for him to be prohibited on the federal level from owning a firearm he would have to have either:
(1) Been INVOLUNTARILLY commited to a mental institution. or
(2) Been ajudicated mentally defective by a court of law (found not guilty by reason of insanity, etc.)
Simply being on meds won't prohibit a person nomatter how fruit-loops they are. Also, since medical records are private people who fall into category 1 are almost never reported to the NICS system.
Instead of turning him in why don't you talk to him or his wife and try to buy the guns from him?
I have no desire to turn the guy in, it was just something I was
kind of wondering about.
Although the guy has called here, in santanic sounding fits, threatening
bodily harm and/or death, he worries me none in that way. I have
made it perfectly clear, in a way even he can understand, what will
happen should he ever step foot on my property.0 -
No, I have an uncle who is bi-polar and he's safe, just he gets up and down...nothing dagerous 0 -
IMO, If a person needs on-going medication to help him determine right from wrong or to help him differentiate between reality and fantasy or to help him keep the voices within his head quiet, etc., then I do believe that the individual should not be permitted to legally own a firearm.
That restriction naturally follows on the heels of a doctor notifying the authorities and certifying that the individual IS mentally or emotionally unfit to own a firearm. That addresses the question on the form. However, I do believe that every five years, that same individual should be re-evaluated by a doctor and the restriction either kept in force or legally removed.0 -
quote:Originally posted by spryor
I have no desire to turn the guy in, it was just something I was kind of wondering about. Although the guy has called here, in santanic sounding fits, threatening bodily harm and/or death, he worries me none in that way. I have made it perfectly clear, in a way even he can understand, what will happen should he ever step foot on my property.
spryor, that changes everything. I take all threats seriously, regardless who they are from. If anything, I would take a threat from somebody claiming to have a mental disorder even more seriously. I wouldn't just blow it off.0 -
If he lives in Illinois, he would have a difficult time getting a FOID card..... 0 -
Its fire and ice, but I cant truthfully say I have the right answer? Thats a good question, I would have to consider the severity of the problem and the Meds he/she is on? I would not want to be the one to make the decision? 0 -
Know a guy that has an FFL license. He was discharged from the service on a medical( PTSD.) Go figure.[:0] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
quote:Originally posted by spryor
I have no desire to turn the guy in, it was just something I was kind of wondering about. Although the guy has called here, in santanic sounding fits, threatening bodily harm and/or death, he worries me none in that way. I have made it perfectly clear, in a way even he can understand, what will happen should he ever step foot on my property.
spryor, that changes everything. I take all threats seriously, regardless who they are from. If anything, I would take a threat from somebody claiming to have a mental disorder even more seriously. I wouldn't just blow it off.
This is an adopted brother, and although I wouldn't put anything past him: I cleaned his plow once as a child and he knows I won't tolerate
him any more. I do take it seriously enough that, if he steps foot on
my property ever again..there will be serious consequences.
Although he's crazy enough to be all mouth on the phone, I somehow
doubt he's quite crazy enough to cross that line with me again.
Actually, although he's always been a bit odd, and a substance abuser
since a small child, I believe his "bipolar" is just a cover.
His wife divorced him a couple years ago, and from there he moved
in with a natural sister and her family. Wore out his welcome there,
and they sold/moved with no forwarding address. Basicaly hiding
from him him.
Then he tried living on his own for a couple months, and knowing the
situation I, and other relatives tried talking him into moving in
with our elderly mom, and help take care of her.
He chose not to move in with mom until my wife and children were
staying there, and dear ol mom offered him a chunk of cash if he
would move in.
Anyway, after he moved in, mom then discovered that he truly was an
an alcoholic, and offered him an ultimatum "straighten up or move".
My take is: him being a known weirdo, it was all too easy to play the
"bipolar" card, and do legal (permissible) drugs. I mean com'on, a
54yr. old man suddenly just now discovers he may be bipolar..?[:0]
The guns he currently has were Dad's, and Dad no longer has any say
in such matters, but you can bet he's rolling in his grave.
He's had guns before, but always pawned anything of value to finance
his various substance abuse'. As the world turns.[;)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Classic095
Know a guy that has an FFL license. He was discharged from the service on a medical( PTSD.) Go figure.[:0]
I also have a rateing from the VA for PTSD from Desert Storm. That is not really an issue as far as being a danger to anyone.
My problem is in sleeping. I have to take medication to help me sleep as I would get real bad night sweats and such. The VA did lots of testing on me to determin it was due to nightmares (I do not remember my dreams and have not since I was in the gulf).
And I can gaurentee I have never been a threat to anyone, but my problem with sleep had me to a point it was hard to function due to lack of sleep. Since I have been takeing medication at night to help with my sleep (this has been for about 10 years now) I get along just fine.
And like I said before, If it was really studied I bet 75% of the population could be diagnosed with some sort of mental illness.
I agree that there are a lot of mental people who have no business owning a gun, it just depends on how severe the problem is.0
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