Reply #15: How?

[jeepnstein]

He was presenting a behavior that by most any standard was unacceptable and was taken into police custody without any violence.

We'll never know this poor fellows medical background but I'm willing to bet he should have not been able to pass a NICS check but somehow did. Simply put, many states do not obey the law that is supposed to keep the mentally ill from buying firearms. It's even more difficult for a private seller to make sure they're not doing business with someone under disability from owning a firearm.

I get to go visit a guy later today who recently tried to kill his childhood friend with a sword. He's got problems by any measure, and nary a felony conviction to his name. I'd be willing to bet he'd pass a NICS check.

Taking away my firearm isn't going to cure anyone's mental illness, except maybe for the moral prohibitionists among us who believe against all logic that they can legislate their way to a peaceful American society. They'd at least be able to whip up a bit more comfort in the alternate reality they choose for themselves.