En Banc Court Struggles With Mental Health Limit to Own Guns
The difficulties of enforcing gun regulations on the mentally ill were brought into focus Wednesday as the en banc Sixth Circuit considered the rights of people involuntarily committed to mental health facilities.
Clifford Tyler was involuntarily admitted to a mental institution in 1986 after an emotionally devastating divorce left him depressed and suicidal.
He was released less than a month later, according to court documents, and has had no other instances of severe depression. Tyler also remarried, remained in the workforce for 19 years and has no criminal record.
Federal law bars him from buying a gun, however, because Section 922(g)(4) of Title 18 prevents any mentally ill person from owning firearms. This provision includes individuals who have been involuntarily committed, though many states allow citizens to apply for relief from the restriction.
More: Courthouse News Service