Guest Blogger Dr. Erik Roskes with an Update on Gun Legislation and the Mentally Ill

In case you haven't heard enough from the Shrink Rappers on mental illness and gun legislation, I'm stealing a synopsis of the recent legislative changes from The Crime Report, a blog by forensic psychiatrist Dr. Erik Roskes.  Taken verbatim, with permission of course:--------On October 1, 2013, Maryland’s modified firearms safety law took effect.  Passed in the aftermath of the Newtown massacre, this law expanded the group restricted from owning certain firearms.  This blog will focus only on the mental health aspects of the law, as I have no claim to expertise outside the mental health arena.  Editor's Note: See an official report from Connecticut State's Attorney on The Crime Report here.Until September 30, 2013, two classes of people were restricted from possessing regulated firearms:(1) a person who “suffers from a mental disorder… and has a history of violent behavior against the person or another,” and(2) a person who “has been confined for more than 30 consecutive days to a [psychiatric] facility.” Effective October 1, 2013, a new law took effect, expanding and modifying the classes of people restricted from possessing weapons for reasons related to mental illness.  Now, the groups include:(1) a person who “suffers from a mental disorder… and has a history of violent behavior against the person or another;”(2) a person who “has been found incompetent to stand trial” (IST);(3) a person who “has been found...
Source: Shrink Rap - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Source Type: blogs