LTCH application question regarding psychiatric treatment

[TheScientist]

I fully understand why this question is a necessary component for a background check, but I feel the way it is stated is traps non-crazies with the crazies. Why should a law abiding citizen who seeks treatment for anxiety and mild depression issues related to being sick all day everyday with chronic illnesses, be subjected to either having to ask for a signature from their doctor or therapist, or a medical chart review by a non medical entity such as the Indiana State Police? I'M an adult long from needing my mommy and daddy's permission slips, and I'm a law abiding citizen, so i'm not swallowing this one very easily. If you're a raving lunatic bent on mass murdering, I would find that this question applies more to you than me. I'm not that girl, and I don't want to be put in a box with those kinds of people. I'm just trying to use my 2nd Amendment right to protect myself wherever I go. Anyone want to weigh in on this?

 

[hpclayto]

What is your question?

 

[ratames]

The question on the form 4473 states "Have you ever been adjudicated as a mental defective OR have you ever been committed to a mental institution?". It's asking if you've ever been adjudicated mentally ill by a judge or have you ever been institutionalized. It doesn't ask anything about seeing a therapist or psychiatrist for treatment. IANAL but I'm not sure where your concern is coming from.

 

[TheScientist]

Pardon me if I'm not making sense to veteran gun owners,, I'm a newbie and i suffer from brain damage that has impaired my learning and understanding processes. I am looking at the the ISP firearms Licensing online firm. Their question is: Have you ever been treated for psychiatric health care or an emotional or mental illness? I wanted to know of any of you felt this was a fair question, considering it lumps mild problems in with true psychopathy? Sorry if I irritated any of you with my ignorance

 

[Joniki]

What do YOU think your reply to this question should be?

Pardon me if I'm not making sense to veteran gun owners,, I'm a newbie and i suffer from brain damage that has impaired my learning and understanding processes. I am looking at the the ISP firearms Licensing online firm. Their question is: Have you ever been treated for psychiatric health care or an emotional or mental illness? I wanted to know of any of you felt this was a fair question, considering it lumps mild problems in with true psychopathy? Sorry if I irritated any of you with my ignorance

 

[K_W]

I was treated for ADHD and ASD from 7 to 19... Called ISP to ask... yep, that's psychiatric treatment, have to disclose that too.

All you really need is a simple letter from your treating physician saying you are not a danger to yourself or others.

 

[TheScientist]

Thank you K_W for your helpful response.

 

[Old Dog]

Pardon me if I'm not making sense to veteran gun owners,, I'm a newbie and i suffer from brain damage that has impaired my learning and understanding processes. I am looking at the the ISP firearms Licensing online firm. Their question is: Have you ever been treated for psychiatric health care or an emotional or mental illness? I wanted to know of any of you felt this was a fair question, considering it lumps mild problems in with true psychopathy? Sorry if I irritated any of you with my ignorance

I agree, the question is very broad, but how else do you separate the real CRAZIES from the rest of us? The letter from the treating physician should clear up the issue.

 

[CitizenX]

There is no shame in receiving treatment for mental issues. You have viable questions. The mere act of choosing not to lie about them speaks volumes. It may be an inconvenience, but a short and simple statement from your professional care giver should be enough to satisfy the application process.

 

[Ziggidy]

II'm not that girl, and I don't want to be put in a box with those kinds of people. Anyone want to weigh in on this?

OK, I get the message, however, "those kind of people"? Then you get an attitude, "Pardon me if I'm not making sense to veteran gun owners,, I'm a newbie and i suffer from brain damage..."?

I don't know you and if I had to make a call just on his thread, I would also want more information if I was the ISP. First impressions?

Relax, if you're doing well and the doctor agrees, all will be good.

 

[TheScientist]

Thanks Old Dog and Citizen X. I speak with her soon, and don't feel she'll have any problem with clearing me.

 

[TheScientist]

Stepping away from the question last night gave me a chance for clarity. Yes, it's a broad question, and no, I don't believe it's particularly fair. I would have an easier time answering a question about mental stability if it consisted of multiple parts. For example:
1. Have you ever had instances where you felt depressesed or anxious?
2. Have you ever felt like harming yourself or harming others?
3. Have you ever had issues controlling your anger?
And so on...
The answer to the series of questions here is yes to #1 no to #'s 2 and 3. This series of questioning should promptly eliminate people who shouldn't even have a gun in the first place, let alone carry one. This would eliminate delays that would be needed to get authorization from your doctor or therapist or save ISP personnel from having to flip through your medical records, as they said would have to do in the FAQ section, if you didn't have authorization from your doctor or therapist.

My problem not only lies with the broadness of the question, but with the bureacratic red tape. This country is flailing. The people screaming that they are loving, civil, and peaceful are looking for ways to spread their "love," and people like me, who resist their definition of "love," are in harms way. Now one could say that I should have been armed a lot sooner than this, but for me, I wasn't comfortable owning a gun until now. I'm a little nervous of what might happen because the application process will now incur a delay.

Ideally, I would have said all this first, but my point in bringing up my medical condition and brain damage, was that I couldn't always express myself verbally (or even behind a keyboard) in a way that others could understand where I was coming from. The point was poorly made. I was hoping to start a dialog regarding this question, but I did so poorly. The answer to the ISP question is 'yes,' but a begrudging 'yes' because I obviously don't believe it's a fair question as posed.

Thanks to all of you who have answered honestly. I really do appreciate everyone's input.

 

[KokomoDave]

I'm glad clarity has lifted this burden from your shoulders.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I was treated for ADHD and ASD from 7 to 19... Called ISP to ask... yep, that's psychiatric treatment, have to disclose that too.

All you really need is a simple letter from your treating physician saying you are not a danger to yourself or others.

Good luck with that. I have heard some docs will not write such a letter in case they were wrong down the road, opening themselves up to lawsuits if the patient snaps. Even if the doctor truly believes the patient is cool today.

 

[TheScientist]

Good luck with that. I have heard some docs will not write such a letter in case they were wrong down the road, opening themselves up to lawsuits if the patient snaps. Even if the doctor truly believes the patient is cool today.

In herein lies a potential problem: that the litigiousness of this society would bar me from protecting myself from it; essentially branding me with an asterik for the rest of my life for seeking help...

 

[TheScientist]

I'm glad clarity has lifted this burden from your shoulders.

thank you!

 

[Timjoebillybob]

Stepping away from the question last night gave me a chance for clarity. Yes, it's a broad question, and no, I don't believe it's particularly fair. I would have an easier time answering a question about mental stability if it consisted of multiple parts. For example:
1. Have you ever had instances where you felt depressesed or anxious?

My preference would be if they only asked about what they are legally allowed to deny the license for mental illness reasons. Which would be...

IC 35-47-1-7"Proper person"
(11) has not been involuntarily committed, other than a temporary commitment for observation or evaluation, to a mental institution by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority;
(12) has not been the subject of a:
(A) ninety (90) day commitment as a result of proceeding under IC 12-26-6; or
(B) regular commitment under IC 12-26-7;
(13) has not been found by a court to be mentally incompetent, including being found:
(A) not guilty by reason of insanity;
(B) guilty but mentally ill; or
(C) incompetent to stand trial; or
(14) is not currently designated as dangerous (as defined in IC 35-47-14-1) by a court following a hearing under IC 35-47-14-6.

Other than those they have no legal reason to know if you've had psychiatric care. Whether it be for anxiety, ocd, depression, wetting the bed, etc.

 

[TheScientist]

My preference would be if they only asked about what they are legally allowed to deny the license for mental illness reasons. Which would be...


Other than those they have no legal reason to know if you've had psychiatric care. Whether it be for anxiety, ocd, depression, wetting the bed, etc.

Thanks for posting. I agree with you.