Publication Date: September 2007
What does it say?
This article provides a history of federal firearms laws relating to mental illness, describes state laws, and reviews implications for mental health practitioners.
How can I use it?
In the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting and the subsequent national legislation to get qualifying records into the Brady background check system, state legislators and advocates may need a primer on mental health issues and guns. This article lists state statutes related to mental health and guns, including type of weapon, prohibited categories, and duration of prohibition (See Table 1).
Citation
JR Simpson, "Bad risk? An overview of laws prohibiting possession of firearms by individuals with a history of treatment for mental illness" J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 35:3 (2007): 330-8
[955]