That is a seriously screwy situation. I guess we better keep our opinions to our selves to avoid the ire of big brother. Either that or there is more to the story that is not included in the article because it wouldn't ruffle as many feathers.

Or charge him with "paper terrorism". I still haven heard a good definition of that one. What would a head shrink say about half the guys hear on our hometown forum? The fact that most here own more than two guns would give them reason to say we're crazy.

Did you guys know that if you are put on even the "No Fly List" for any reason, you lose all your rights to own firearms? For a while in the early 2000s, if you flew without a picture ID, you were put on that list. Getting off usually requires a lawsuit and lots of evidence. Just one more way to lose your rights for no reason.

Nope, that would be a massive civil rights lawsuit, you can't lose Constitutional rights without a trial and conviction (whether it be for a criminal case or a doctor bringing charges that you need to be involuntarily committed due to mental health issues or are otherwise mentally incompetent).

From what I can tell, he was detained for a mental health evaluation that can be up to 72 hours, that is NOT considered an involuntary commitment with regard to the 4473, IF, during that 72 hour evaluation, the doctors determine that he appears to be a threat to himself or others, they then go to court to file for a longer commitment.

This scares me bad. In the famous words of Pedro Cerano, is very bad.

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but its true. I can imagine this stuff happening in Russia, but not here.

I am not big on facebook, but there is a group created to support him that I joined. http://www.facebook.com/groups/188319494633640/

A small step I know. I may contact the Governor of VA tomorrow (or try to).

This ought to give y'all a warm fuzzy about the whole deal:

Video

Rosenhan Experiment Article

Oh and from what I read Raub, or whatever the guys name is, is in for evaluation for 30 days not 3. The laws vary widely from state to state on what is required to take and hold someone for a psychiatric evaluation.

I can tell you from experience with an in-law family member with a real mental illness that psychiatric hospitals especially state or VA run ones are horrifically shitty and dangerous places. The dangers are not from the patients so much as the utterly useless and sometimes criminal staff. The AJC ran a pretty good series of articles a few years back about the Georgia mental hospital system. I think they kill more patients than any other system in the country according to the reports.

The link is presumably to the site of the group that secured his release.