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jwirr

(39,215 posts)
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 05:37 PM Jun 2016

My son-in-law told me yesterday that "Obama" was taking

guns away from veterans who were taking certain drugs (medications). Talked about some guy in Utah who wouldn't let them and all the neighbors supported him.

I have no doubt in my mind that the Utah story is a Mormon tale about bad government. I would like to know if the story about taking guns from the vets has legs.

If this is true I have a feeling that it is about PTSD and mental illness and suicide. When my brother was diagnosed with bi-polar the first thing they suggested for his care was getting the guns out of the house. With the number of suicides among veterans that might be the issue.

What is bothering my son-in-law is that he uses the drug that was named to sleep when his pain is elevated. He is a hunter and does not want to lose his guns.

So is there any truth to this story?

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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tonyt53

(5,737 posts)
1. Obama has yet to issue any order removing guns from anybody. A doctor might make that recommendation
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 05:40 PM
Jun 2016

Warpy

(110,904 posts)
2. Do you think Obama has the time to micromanage either guns or veterans?
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 06:19 PM
Jun 2016

There's your answer, right there.

It's obvious that some partisan hack heard about a homicidal or suicidal vet being asked to turn his guns in until he got better. That instantly became OBAMMY'S TAKIN GUNS AWAY FROM VETRUNS! in his feeble and partisan little mind. It's a stupid enough story to have been generated by Profit Orrin, himself.

Let's both of us hope the gullible SIL gets enough hard kicks in life to wise him up and grow him up. It's too bad but a few hard kicks are often what it takes.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
4. That is what I was assuming when he told me. Unfortunately
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 06:27 PM
Jun 2016

he reads a lot of idiot magazines and tends to fall for it. His friends are like him - their narrow little lives surround him. I don't often argue with him because he does nothing but talk.

I did tell him I disagreed and why someone who was suicidal should not have guns around. He listened but did not say any more.

 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
6. I live in a college town where ConspiracyTheorater© is a dull drone...
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 07:00 PM
Jun 2016

...in the background. No. 1 rule:. Keep talking over anyone who disagrees. Keep talking. Keep talking. Keep talking....

gejohnston

(17,502 posts)
3. saw the same thing on Facebook
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 06:25 PM
Jun 2016

When I researched it, I found Snopes and Veterans Today both saying it is nonsense.
http://www.snopes.com/2015/07/20/social-security-gun-check/
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/02/25/veterans-gun-seizure-hoax-debunked-somewhat/

Yes, I know that VT once had a writer that claimed that Sandy Hook was the movie Wag the Dog come to life.

gejohnston

(17,502 posts)
7. You are welcome
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 07:01 PM
Jun 2016

I stopped hunting since the kids are grown and the wife and I don't eat that much red meat. Besides, the best fishing is during hunting season and trout is less work than moving a 300 pound mule deer a couple miles to the truck. In the South, bow hunting seems more popular.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
8. He has a bad back now and is not going to be able to hunt
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 07:14 PM
Jun 2016

any longer but he goes out with the rest of the family just to be in the woods. He teaches them how to safely use the guns and what not to shoot.

mackdaddy

(1,520 posts)
9. Suicide is a significant problem among veterans, and weapons can be removed as a precaution
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 07:21 PM
Jun 2016

no matter if the VA or any medical professional thinks there is a problem. This is not an "Obama" thing though.

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/communityproviders/docs/VA_Suicide_RMT.pdf

http://www.amvets.org/va-business-gun-control/

Here is a youtube "prepper" story of a run-in with the psych people.



jwirr

(39,215 posts)
10. He is pretty much worried about being judged by the medication
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 07:36 PM
Jun 2016

he uses. In his life I see nothing that would be a foundation for a declaration of insanity. He is disabled but he is a fully active member of the family and often is the one taking care of the children who love him dearly.

He is also the one who is the most likely to take care of the elderly in our family - me, his 80 year old mother and his 90 year old uncle. The only problem he has is that he thinks someone may take the hunting equipment away. As I said that probably comes from his friends and the magazines he reads.

And his chronic pain which is very bad.

 

Kang Colby

(1,941 posts)
11. He should not be worried.
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 09:00 PM
Jun 2016

A VA determination only prohibits gun ownership/possession in cases where the individual has been assigned a fiduciary to manage their benefits. So, as long as your SIL hasn't been assigned a fiduciary to represent his interests before the VA, then VA will not report him as a prohibited person. http://www.benefits.va.gov/fiduciary/beneficiary.asp

This is essentially the same practice employed by the Social Security Administration.

That should put his mind at ease.

Having said that, gun rights supporters, lobbyists, and members of congress are working to strengthen protections for veterans' gun rights. The VA lacks regulatory authority to make the kind of determinations required by ATF regulations to prohibit gun ownership. Thus, a VA determination that a veteran is “incompetent” to manage finances is insufficient to conclude that the veteran is prohibited under the ATF’s standard that is codified in federal law. VA only has limited authority to make determinations of incompetency and only in the context of financial matters.

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