In the USA, these issues always appear to be so hard to resolve as one state permits, one state does not, one state has some allowances etc. In Canada, the same problems are usually pretty easy to sort out, all the provinces will agree to a unified solution ( in most cases) , while Quebec does something else that nobody cares about and doesn’t affect anyone else. In written legal terms, there’s always the ‘except in Quebec’ clause, as they are restricted from doing pretty much anything.
When it comes to employment rights, same thing, the rest of Canada’s provinces all get a level of protection, except residents of Quebec, who’s employment laws are very similar to the US where the company is protected and can do pretty much what they want to an employee.
Preamble over, after watching the morning news I was wondering how Americans deal with issues when they are so separated by state laws. I completely understand the independence of states but I also see how it detracts from moving forward as a nation on many issues.
Gun laws: Today I almost fell out of bed while watching US news and how one state has denounced a new gun law amendment to protect the medical records of mentally ill people from being released to FBI conducting background checks for new permits.
I was sure I didn’t her it right so I them looked it up and found it was true! So protecting a person’s medical record release, when they sign a form accepting a background/security clearance check, medial records are off the record?
Their reasoning was that, if Americans know they MAY be restricted form buying a firearm, if they have a history of mental illness, they will be less likely to voluntarily enter a mental illness facility.
Even after confirming it, I still think they are having a laff. It appears that most states have laws where IF you’ve been voluntarily admitted and then released, you can still get a permit. If you were admitted against your will and THEN released, you were not, then again some states allow it for both.
I just don’t get how ANYONE, EVER having been admitted for ANY reason would be allowed a firearms permit.
Shouldn’t that be like question #1 for a gun permit?
Are you or were you ever a nutter? If YES, no gun for you!
How can there be ANY gray area around it? Are Americans THAT mental that even someone with a history of mental illness has his right to own a firearm defended?!? I still can’t quite get my head around it myself, it’s just so far out of this world that I don’t see how anyone can actually say it with a straight face.
The state argues that medical history records are private, unless specifically authorized for release by the patient. Fair enough, I couldn’t agree more. But when you sign a release for a criminal background history check, finding out if you are mentally unstable should be authorized at the same time.
So not only do pro gun activists feel ANYONE should have a gun and be able to get one quickly an without further delays, they also feel that the mentally ill (assumed “cured”) should be able to get one without revealing their past mental illness history.
Seriously, you think you have problems in the middle east, try looking right next door instead. Your problems are internal, not in foreign countries.