Legislation is creeping forward that demands that people who have been prescribed a psychotropic drug, surrender all firearms. The state of New York has already begun doing exactly that. The Feds are talking about making it National and widening the net to include anyone who has been treated for any form of depression or PTSD. I’m an avid gun enthusiast who strongly believes in keeping guns out of the hands of the wrong people, but this is going to impact a whole lot of good guys.

For example: Lithium, Zyprexa and Topamax are medications that have definite off-label uses for CH’s, but they are also enough to tag you as "unsafe."  Anyone who has ever reported feeling depressed, or served in combat may get the same label. If the Affordable Healthcare Act actually gets rolling, that “tag” will have all kinds of potential consequences in the national database.

This is not intended to be a pro-gun post. It’s a warning to think about potential consequences of filling a prescription for certain medications. I’m very concerned about the number of people who won’t seek treatment when they really need it!

A recent case, here in gun friendly Texas: The Feds put this man in the National database so he cannot buy a gun anywhere in the country. He was trying to buy a little .22 rifle.........
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Now add the massive "data mining" clearly being done by NSA and think about things like posts about salad toppings or seeds used to control CH’s.

Just food for thought.

Marc

   Actually, it's serious food for thought, nice job of connecting the dots Marc.

    Sean

I think this is ridiculous. Guess I can't buy any more guns (just have to make due with the ones I have - and they're so old they sure nuff ain't registered).

I think we need to go back to letting our kids play cowboys and Indians and use cap guns when they're little. Most of us grew up fine doing that. I probably shot a million Indians before I was ten and haven't had a desire to do so since.

Now I don't know how it is in the rest of the country, but here in Texas - if someone wants a gun.. well it takes about 30 minutes on the street to get one. (yep I've bought some that way).

It's a fact of life that the more you say "no" the more people are going to do it. And the govt should just get the hell out of our business.

If they got everyone's guns - what would be next - everyone's kitchen knives.. get real..

I do have a little bit of an opinion on this one..  :-*

One crazy side effect is that someone who already legimately owns firearms will think twice about seeing a doctor if they suspect they are depressed. Is this really a good idea?

And of course any measure like this will have zero impact on criminals. So what is the true purpose of this law?

Mike NZ wrote on Jul 19^th, 2013 at 5:36pm:

One crazy side effect is that someone who already legimately owns firearms will think twice about seeing a doctor if they suspect they are depressed. Is this really a good idea? And of course any measure like this will have zero impact on criminals. So what is the true purpose of this law?

You talk like most Texans I know....... I do agree, and I feel that the net result will be that the very people who need the most help won't seek it. That's a very big deal to me.

Why take this draconian, extremist approach? Take your pick from the menu of obvious motives........

The point of my post goes far beyond guns. It's all about our highly personal, individual financial/personal/business/medical/psych history being readily available in a national database. That's a very, very big deal.

Marc

Also interesting that an Executive Order was just issued requiring everyone from 15 to 65 years of age be screened for AIDS/HIV. Oh boy - now they can couple our medical records with our DNA:


Quote:

By Yasmeen Abutaleb WASHINGTON | Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:45pm EDT (Reuters) - After fresh criticism of his record on combating HIV/AIDS, President Barack Obama on Monday ordered a stepped up effort to deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. An executive order from the White House, which follows renewed criticism of Obama's AIDS strategy during his visit to Africa in late June and early July, called for better coordination of the national effort. Obama's order said that recent studies had shown that aggressive testing and early treatment can have a significant impact in preventing transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. "In light of these data, we must further clarify and focus our national efforts to prevent and treat HIV infection," it said. "This acceleration will enable us to meet the goals of the Strategy and move closer to an AIDS-free generation." The order said a working group chaired by Grant Colfax, director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius would have 180 days to deliver recommendations to the president. The HIV Care Continuum Working Group will gather information from federal agencies on HIV testing and care, review HIV research, and recommend ways to accelerate and improve HIV treatment and care, it said. The new order follows recommendations this year from the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force that all 15 to 65 year olds be screened for HIV infection, something that will be covered under Obama's signature heath reform, the Affordable Care Act.

Brew: Yes indeed, Sir. I think you nailed it. To me it's obviously nothing more than a move to get DNA into the data base.

NO, I'm not scanning the night sky looking for black helicopters! But, when a curve ball comes screaming in toward my face - I'm smart enough to duck!

Marc

Marc and Bill, you are dead on!  Personal privacy is gone for good.  The last six years have been disastrous for personal liberty.  Hope they don't come looking for mine.  I lost them.

Jerry

Callico wrote on Jul 21^st, 2013 at 6:25am:

Marc and Bill, you are dead on!  Personal privacy is gone for good.  The last six years have been disastrous for personal liberty.  Hope they don't come looking for mine.  I lost them. Jerry

Wow, Jerry - you too? There has been a rash of people losing their guns around here. One guy lost all of his when they fell out of the boat - waaaaaay out offshore. Another guy had all of his guns stolen by a band of trained circus monkeys who escaped from a traveling carnival in a nearby town.

It's hard to believe, but Texas followed that idiot newspaper in New York - and published a map of all households with three or more guns.

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Marc

Marc wrote on Jul 21^st, 2013 at 12:56pm:

Another guy had all of his guns stolen by a band of trained circus monkeys who escaped from a traveling carnival in a nearby town.

Around here it's rabid, feral chickens doing most of the gun thefts. Bastards got hooked on Exlax and steal to support their habit.

Racer1_NC wrote on Jul 21^st, 2013 at 5:51pm:

Marc wrote on Jul 21st, 2013 at 12:56pm: Another guy had all of his guns stolen by a band of trained circus monkeys who escaped from a traveling carnival in a nearby town. Around here it's rabid, feral chickens doing most of the gun thefts. Bastards got hooked on Exlax and steal to support their habit.

Damn - I can't imagine dealing with heavily armed rabid feral chickens - with both a drug problem and diarrhea no less! You guys have it rough!

Marc

It was Dana Lyons started it with them cows got guns, then the chickens got choppers and we're doomed.

Doomed, I tell ya!

Only beer will save us so donate now.

Like Barbara, i grew up playing cowboy and indians with my
mates in the woods.I also had a 4 gauge shotgun for rabbit
hunting, but i never felt the need to go out and harm
someone.This is why i think more awareness should be on
someone's mental health rather than gun control.

Hoppy.

And the sad part is -- I TAKE antidepressents (for my head) and I STILL don't have a desire to shoot anyone (well maybe ever once in a while  :)). But I DO protect my dogs from coyotes with my trusty guns.

I am NOT mentally unstable and resent anyone (the govt) trying to say I am because I take anti-depressants. There are different reasons for taking them (like countered the effects of other medications).

I really don't have a problem with registering guns (new ones) but all this other bull is just that BULL!

I still feel sad for baby Caroline, shot dead by her 5yo brother with his .22 calibre birthday present.

"The little boy is used to shooting the little gun, and it's just one of those crazy accidents," said the coroner.

"It was god's will. It was her time to go, I guess," said granny.

"Everyone thought the gun was unloaded."

A five year old with his own little rifle.

Suffer the little children.

AussieBrian wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2013 at 10:34am:

I still feel sad for baby Caroline, shot dead by her 5yo brother with his .22 calibre birthday present. "The little boy is used to shooting the little gun, and it's just one of those crazy accidents," said the coroner. "It was god's will. It was her time to go, I guess," said granny. "Everyone thought the gun was unloaded." A five year old with his own little rifle. Suffer the little children.

Rather odd thing to post about. Pushing an agenda?

The way things are going now everyone needs anti-depressants.

One day you read about some ridiculous proposal being considered and think there is no possible way it could even be plausible.  Must be some wacky blogger with an obvious extremest agenda.

Time passes and then you catch a glimpse on the news of some self-important elected jackass slipping that very unconstitutional piece of crap into a omnibus spending bill and lauding its dire need and for the betterment of an ignorant society.  Glad they know what's best.

I'll be 58 in a month. I've lived long enough to realize I've lived in the best place and the best time in the history of mankind.  Unfortunately I fear I will live long enough to see it collapse. I hope not for our kids sake.

My wise old Aunt Bev said to me not too long ago..."Honey, I'm glad I'm going out and not coming in. This place is turning to shit."

Steve G

If they (Govt) are talking about your every day variety of
anti-depressants, Prozac, Zoloft, to name a few.Then they
are barking up the wrong tree.

Hoppy.

Steve, I have you by a year, and I agree with you whole-heartedly.  We used to play "Army" all the time when I was a kid.  You got shot and you had to count to ten, or twenty-five, or fifty before you could get back into the game and try to shoot one of the others.  We used cap guns (if we could afford caps) or we yelled bang.  One friend used his BB gun.  (we always checked to be sure it was unloaded)  We even played on the school grounds during recess. 

Out of all the guys I used to play with all have turned out to be responsible, honorable people.  (the rest of them, anyway)  None of us have been involved in crime, committed violent acts, and to the best of my knowledge, I'm the only one who has spent time in jail. (As a chaplain  :D)  Of my five kids, two are serving as Marines, one active, one reserve.  The reserve is a Law Enforcement officer in SC.  My eldest starts with Customs and Border Patrol in a week.  My eldest daughter was a Police Cadet, and then worked 911 before getting married and starting a family.  My youngest is still in HS, but already has her CNA certification, works in a nursing home, and plans to go into nursing.  Must be all that abject violence i was raised with that has skewed my family to make them all such worthless malcontents and scofflaws.  AND, I have been on anti-depressants for this miserable head of mine.

Jerry

Well, I'm MUCH older than you children, but back when I was a kiddo, if we got a new gun for Christmas, we HAD to take it to school and show it off (we left it in the car, but ...). The principal always came out and admired it and we'd go to the river-bottom during lunch hour to show how well it shot. No one thought a darn thing about it.

When my son was growing up we didn't even know what a gun safe was. We kept the guns under the beds. And we had kids running in and out of the house - they knew the guns were NOT to be messed with and they didn't fool with them. They had their own cap guns and played with them.

I'd forgotten about Army.. we lived on a hill and I couldn't count the kids who've been shot on that hill and rolled down it (myself included).

And how many times have we gotten mad at someone and remarked, "I'd like to shoot that sob!" We say it but would we really do it.. of course not.

But most of us grew up playing outside instead of with Ipods (or whatever) and those games that kill everyone. We didn't have 24 hour Reality shows.. (Father Knows Best and Leave it to Beaver gave us our insight into right and wrong).

Steve I'm with your Aunt.. we grew up in the good days.. what's happening now just makes me shake in my boots.

I bought my first shotgun, a side by side 12 gauge from my gym teacher with paper route earnings when I was 15 years old. If that took place today that teacher would be castrated.  I carried a swiss army knife to school everyday for all 4 years of high school and nobody gave a rip. Things are really different today.

                 Sean
 

I'm a gun enthusiast, and an avid sports shooter, but I am also an avid strict Constitutionalist. My concern is that the government is increasingly trying to track and database our legal activities, including gun registration and the kinds of meds I'm taking. Does my use of lithium for CHs make me as high a risk for violence as Adam Lanza? NO. It's just another excuse to reduce our personal liberties. Think I'll go and get a 32oz soda. No, wait, that's only if I don't live in NY. This is an outrage but a product of what we have allowed from politicians.

stevegeebe wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2013 at 12:03am:

The way things are going now everyone needs anti-depressants. One day you read about some ridiculous proposal being considered and think there is no possible way it could even be plausible.  Must be some wacky blogger with an obvious extremest agenda. Time passes and then you catch a glimpse on the news of some self-important elected jackass slipping that very unconstitutional piece of crap into a omnibus spending bill and lauding its dire need and for the betterment of an ignorant society.  Glad they know what's best. I'll be 58 in a month. I've lived long enough to realize I've lived in the best place and the best time in the history of mankind.  Unfortunately I fear I will live long enough to see it collapse. I hope not for our kids sake. My wise old Aunt Bev said to me not too long ago..."Honey, I'm glad I'm going out and not coming in. This place is turning to shit." Steve G

That's brilliant, things I think but just never said out loud, especially this quote "I've lived long enough to realize I've lived in the best place and the best time in the history of mankind.  Unfortunately I fear I will live long enough to see it collapse. I hope not for our kids sake" I love my country but WOW!! what's going on? Thanks Steve

PFDN Norm

It's a different world.

In order for me to sell a cap gun on ebay it has to have a cork in the barrel....a RED one....red only. It was pulled off twice until I painted the damned thing.

Charlie