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NICS Improvements Act passes both houses
Sen. Colburn's hold enabled him to get some improvements, too:
"Just before midnight Tuesday, Coburn and the Democratic supporters of the bill struck a deal: The government would pay for the cost of appeals by gun owners and prospective buyers who argue successfully in court that they were wrongly deemed unqualified for mental health reasons.
The compromise would require that incorrect records _ such as expunged mental health rulings that once disqualified a prospective gun buyer but no longer do _ be removed from system within 30 days.
The original bill would require any agency, such as the Veterans Administration or the Defense Department, to notify a person flagged as mentally ill and disqualified from buying or possessing a gun. The new version now also would require the notification when someone has been cleared of that restriction."
UPDATE: it's getting rather strange of late. Here's what Carolyn McCarthy said: "Together, we have crafted a bill that will prevent gun violence, but maintain the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens" to bear arms."
Uh ... Second Amendment rights of individuals? Law abiding citizens? I didn't antigunners were allowed to use terms like that.
ANOTHER UPDATE: You can find extensive discussion from SayUncle and Snowflakes in Hell, as well as the National Shooting Sports Foundation. All say it's an improvement in the law, and I would agree.
Comments
Two things I have heard make this bill a bad bill--if true.
The people wanting to clear their records would have to pay lawyers and win before getting back any money. Which means people without big money would not be able to do it. This seems as to violate the equal protection aspects of the US Constitution. Sort of like a "poll tax" to prevent voters from exercising their constitutional rights. Also the bill is said not to require a court adjudication with the "accused" allowed a lawyer and a defense before losing their constitutional rights. Of course foot dragging and delayed--denied-- justice would also be a reality. The bill seems a terrible success
for the anti gun...and anti mental health crowd.
What sane person will seek help for feeling bad or depressed knowing they will stand a good chance of losing their constitutional rights if they seek that help.
Of course, as with criminals and guns,the real mental cases will do what they want anyway.
Posted by: gp martin at December 22, 2007 06:16 PM