If someone is depressed over the death of his child -- should he never be able to own a gun again?

If so, how many people will avoid ever getting any mental health help? How many will have their conditions become aggravated until they truly do become dangerous?

We have to be careful how we handle gun registration. Even if we want people to be screened, we do not want to re-ignite the stigma of mental illness or drive people away from treatment.

As the first example illustrates, what if a parent loses a child and gets treatment for depression for a temporary, situational problem? If he or she has a "hold" put on him or her, will that be used to permanently ban the possession of a firearm?

Some people would far rather go it alone than lose their right to go hunting or target shooting, let alone give up what they consider self-defense.

That could very easily end up with some people who have problems with violence getting worse.

What kind of mental illness should a ban include? Paranoia that makes a person violent? A history of physical violence of any kind? Someone who has voices telling him to hurt people?

Maybe, but people who are obsessive compulsive about washing their hands? People who are depressed from losing a job? People who are anxious in social situations? That seems to be taking it too far, although we could discuss it.

Remember, there is no greater incidence of violence among the mentally ill than the rest of society. Just because we use the phrase "they must be crazy" does not mean a violent person has a mental illness or a condition that makes them dangerous.


When someone flagrantly violates our bedrock taboos -- like killing children -- that does not make them actually mentally ill. It makes them criminal and dangerous, and they can be fully in their right minds.

Let us hope the Colorado legislature can discern the difference between various kinds of mental illness -- or they could make matters worse.
