Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

It looks like VA gun dealers want to require mental health professionals to provide data about patients for background checks on gun purchases. According to one source, they see it as a way to protect themselves from lawsuits stemming from selling firearms to mentally unstable individuals.

While I understand their point, I think a better way to go would be to pass a bill that holds gun owners harmless for any firearm they lawfully sell.

Some may think this is reasonable, but I see it as a further corruption of the "innocent until proven guilty" principle. Where does it stop? As of right now, I do not believe someone being treated for say, depression, is ineligible for a concealed carry permit. Is it feasible that someone who is depressed could buy a gun and use it on him/her self or someone else? Sure it is. The same person could also buy a knife, a rope or a hammer and do the same. Where does it all stop?

It has to stop with the recognition of personal responsibility and a realization that society cannot legislate illegal or mentally unsound acts out of existence.

What we CAN and SHOULD do is put a stop to the idiocy of filing lawsuits on people just because they happen to have some sort of contact with someone bent on breaking the law. Gun shop owners are not, nor should be qualified to judge the intentions or mental capacity of their customers. Nor should they be held liable for their lawful and responsible actions.

As a society, we need to stop trying to slap the blame on anyone but the perpetrator of a crime.

Andy

Good post Andy. Do you have a cite for the statement in the title of your post? I'd like to see some of the background.

I couldn't agree with you more on the points of personal responsibility and stop frivolous lawsuits.

People need to be held responsible for their own actions. Responsibility cannot be legislated, and the more legislation that's put into place, the less responsibility is expected. It's a downward spiral, and the current generation of youth make the point very clearly.

Good post, Andy.

As a society we need to crack down on frivolous lawsuits.

Thanks Rick and Steve,

This post came from a conversation with a gun shop owner. While I just met him, he comes across as an individual who can be believed. In order to confirm what I learned I'll need to do some more research.

Andy

allingeneral wrote:Good post Andy. Do you have a cite for the statement in the title of your post? I'd like to see some of the background.

I couldn't agree with you more on the points of personal responsibility and stop frivolous lawsuits.

People need to be held responsible for their own actions. Responsibility cannot be legislated, and the more legislation that's put into place, the less responsibility is expected. It's a downward spiral, and the current generation of youth make the point very clearly.

I couldn't agree with you more (see my sig). I'm married to a teacher and the level to which there is no accountability even in middle school is scary. I'm only 24, but back when I was in school if I didn't do my work I got a 0 with no chance to make it up. These whiny little kids (and unbelievable their parents) have made such a stink, the administration has caved and mandated that the teachers can't give below a 50, even when nothing was turned in! It is absolutely psychotic.

I realize my little rant was not on topic for firearms, but I think that it shows a prevailing trend across our nation of not enforcing consequences on those that are responsible. Instead it is society that must pay.