Comments on: Why Journalists Mention a Perpetrator’s Mental Illness/Shooting in Washington State http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2008/09/03/why-journalists-mention-a-perpetrators-mental-illnessshooting-in-washington-state/ A blog about mental health Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:55:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Stephany http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2008/09/03/why-journalists-mention-a-perpetrators-mental-illnessshooting-in-washington-state/comment-page-1/#comment-3647 Stephany Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:56:18 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/2008/09/03/why-journalists-mention-a-perpetrators-mental-illnessshooting-in-washington-state/#comment-3647 I'm not so sure it's gun lobby--it's a Constitutional right to own a gun, and the only way the perp could have that revoked is if he had been ITA (Involuntarily Commitment Act) in Washington state. Once that happens you lose rights to a gun ownership and permit, and only a Judge can give you back the right. Once a person has a mental health history they are fair game in the media--sadly. It's an unfortunate stigma that plays out in mainstream media day in and day out. I’m not so sure it’s gun lobby–it’s a Constitutional right to own a gun, and the only way the perp could have that revoked is if he had been ITA (Involuntarily Commitment Act) in Washington state. Once that happens you lose rights to a gun ownership and permit, and only a Judge can give you back the right.

Once a person has a mental health history they are fair game in the media–sadly. It’s an unfortunate stigma that plays out in mainstream media day in and day out.

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