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X ` Man[_3_]

On 8/11/12 12:38 PM, wrote:
On Sat, 11 Aug 2012 11:36:44 -0400, X ` Man
wrote:

On 8/11/12 11:26 AM, wrote:
On Sat, 11 Aug 2012 07:54:52 -0400, X ` Man
wrote:

On 8/11/12 1:50 AM, wrote:

In the case of the Aurora shooter the university had pinpointed him as
being a potential threat but when he dropped out, they dropped their
concern. Maybe instead of suing the movie theater, they should sue the
university.

What do you think the university should have done after the shooter
dropped out in his mental health issues? This is a country with very
little in the way of decent public mental health services.

The current answer I am hearing from the victims was that this
evaluation should have immediately been put in the FBI NCIC database
and available to anyone who is willing to look for it, including the
firearms background check.
Unfortunately that would also be available to credit agencies,
employers and insurance companies. (hence the privacy concern)

I'm not sure, but I don't think HIPAA allows that.

Therein lies the problem doesn't it. Public safety vs privacy.

You end up finding yourself in exactly the same position as the NRA
and I am sure you are both uncomfortable there.
Should a doctor or psychologist be able to put an entry in the NCIC
that would block a gun sale and how do you do that without also
telling everyone else why.
It does open up the question, what else would that information be used
for?
Would employers avoid hiring that person?
Would landlords not rent to them?
Would it affect their credit score?
Would they have problems getting accepted to college?
That would, in effect, be like having "a police record" with all the
ramifications that implies.

I would have no objection to requiring those seeking a concealable
handgun to subject themselves to a serious "pass/fail" psychological
exam by a licensed practitioner. This isn't foolproof, of course, but it
might screen out some sociopaths. Of course, the screens would be
subject to the wrath of the subjects. And of course, where would the
results of the test be entered.

I've never claimed keeping guns out of the hands of the crazies is easy,
but we sure need to at least start a rational dialogue about how to do it.

--
I'm a liberal because the militant fundamentalist ignorant
science-denying religious xenophobic corporate oligarchy of modern
Republican conservatism just doesn't work for me or my country.