Thread: House of Representatives passes Bill, enables restriction of 2nd Amendment right

House of Representatives passes Bill, enables restriction of 2nd Amendment right

By Michael Vass | May 31, 2014

Without fanfare, and well below the radar of almost everyone, the House of Representatives has just enabled New York State (and any other State contributing to the NICS database) to violate HIPPA laws and revoke gun permits without justification or cause. It sounds too crazy to be true, and most would think that defenders of the 2nd Amendment would prevent such a violation of rights to occur, but that is not the case.

We first learned of this from Gun Owners of America. In a post on their website they highlight HR 4660 and specifically H Amd 704. It is the Amendment that is critical to gun owners across the nation and especially in New York State. H Amd 704 will provide $19.5 million to States to update the National Instant Criminal Background Check system.
Let’s pause for a few details.
HR 4660 is a boring and relatively bland appropriations Bill that will fund various agencies of the Government. It was passed 5/30/14, in a vote of 321-87 (NY-22 Rep. Richard Hanna voted to pass this Bill). This Bill, like most, contained Amendments to it – in this case 84 of them.
H Amd 704 authorized spending $19.5 million to encourage States to voluntarily add names of citizens to the National Instant Criminal Background Check system (NICS).
What is NCIS?
NICS is a database that is used at the point of sale of a firearm. Anyone on this list will be denied the ability to own a firearm. In addition, those on the database with a firearms permit can have that permit revoked and the firearm confiscated. The list is meant for those:
Convicted or under indictment of a crime punishable by 1 year imprisonment
A fugitive
Has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution
Is subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of such intimate partner There are other conditions that could cause a person to be added to this list, but for the purpose of this article we will stop here. The 3rd item is the one that matter to those in NYS, as per the NY Safe Act. According to Jim Tresmond of Tresmond Law Firm, on the Tom Bauerle Show – WBEN 930AM, citizens are having their firearm permits revoked,

“That is a fact. We are representing a client right now, who is been impacted by this onerous activity of the Government.” – Jim Tresmond

How is this happening?
Apparently, New York State is searching medical records of firearm permit holders – in violation of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) and the 4th Amendment – without cause, and isolating those receiving psychiatric care and (at least) anti-anxiety medication. These individuals, a full tally of which is currently unknown, are thus having their firearm license revoked and firearms confiscated. All without any incident, violation of law, or other factor involved. All under the power of the NY Safe Act.
So what does this have to do with HR 4460 and H Amd 704? This is how it all ties together.
Since 2007, Congress has paid States that voluntarily add people to the NICS database. The reasoning is, as sponsor Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) states,

“Our states need more resources to get all their information into the NICS system,” Thompson said. “If we give them these resources, we can stop dangerous people from getting guns. And we can save lives.”

It should be noted that the NICS has never been proven to have prevented a single mass shooting ever. There is large debate if the database can ever prevent a mass shooting, no matter how many are placed upon it. Which says nothing of the debate about the impact the NICS has on criminal possession and use of firearms.
But, back to the point at hand. The NICS database has been limited by the need for funding, which H Amd 704 will increase. New York State is using the NICS, and the NY Safe Act, to revoke licenses and restrict the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans, without cause and in violation of HIPPA law. NYS will now be able to increase the number of people that it will violate the rights of if HR 4660 becomes law – which is likely.
As for the defenders of the 2nd Amendment? Like say the NRA or members of Congress like Rep. Richard Hanna, who has proudly promoted his NRA rating in his bid to be re-elected?
Well in regard to the NRA and H Amd 704, the NRA had no position as of 5/29/14.

Rep. Richard Hanna and 13 Republicans, as well as 11 Democrats, had no position either way. They neither voted for nor against H Amd 704, and its potential to restrict the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans. 142 Republicans and 3 Democrats voted against the funding and imposition on the 2nd Amendment. Thus H Amd 704 passed and is part of HR 4660.
That left another chance for Rep. Richard Hanna, and other “defenders” of the 2nd Amendment to prevent States like New York from violating the rights of Americans. All they had to do is vote NAY on HR 4660. If nothing else it would serve to prove they are reading the Bills they are voting on. It would show they are standing by the very convictions some, like Rep. Hanna, are asking voters to re-elect them for.
Rep. Hanna and 203 Republicans, 117 Democrats as well, voted to pass HR 4660 – and H Amd 704 with it – on 5/30/14.
So to conclude, very quietly, the House of Representatives has just taken a step to enable New York State to increase the number of American citizens – without criminal actions or incidents – that it will restrict the 2nd Amendment rights of. Passage of HR 4660 is likely in the Senate, and removal of H Amd 704 unlikely. Thus Congress is poised to help violate the rights of Americans across the nation potentially, and very realistically in New York State.
Does this sound like what you elected your member of Congress for? Is this the defending of the 2nd Amendment you were told about on the campaign trail? Does this reflect your views and that of your neighbors/co-workers/friends?
You can do nothing, now that you know. You could re-elect the various members of Congress that either didn’t read the Bill or just don’t think the public is smart enough to understand what is happening.
OR, you can vote for an accountable and credible voice of the people in the primaries and mid-term elections this year. You can write a letter to your member of Congress, expressing that you are paying attention to what they are – or are not – doing in your name. You can join an organization of like minded people.
You can do any of the above, if you want. But if you do nothing, especially in New York, especially if Rep. Richard Hanna is your Congressman, then don’t be surprised if tomorrow there is a knock at your door and the Government is there ready to take away your rights.

Related posts:

1. Rep. Richard Hanna is no champion of 1st Amendment – repost 5/1/14
2. Rep Hanna voted for Amash Amendment – well not quite. – Repost from 7/25/13
3. Gun restriction legislation – does it really help?
4. George Phillips – NY House of Representatives candidate
5. House Representatives need to do their job

HOW THEY VOTED


Vote Party Representative District
Alabama
Aye R Byrne, Bradley AL 1st
Aye R Roby, Martha AL 2nd
Aye R Rogers, Mike AL 3rd
Aye R Aderholt, Robert AL 4th
Aye R Brooks, Mo AL 5th
Aye R Bachus, Spencer AL 6th
No D Sewell, Terri AL 7th
Alaska
Aye R Young, Don AK
Arizona
No D Kirkpatrick, Ann AZ 1st
No D Barber, Ron AZ 2nd
No D Grijalva, Raúl AZ 3rd
Aye R Gosar, Paul AZ 4th
Aye R Salmon, Matt AZ 5th
Aye R Schweikert, David AZ 6th
No D Pastor, Ed AZ 7th
Aye R Franks, Trent AZ 8th
No D Sinema, Kyrsten AZ 9th
Arkansas
Aye R Crawford, Eric AR 1st
Aye R Griffin, Tim AR 2nd
Aye R Womack, Steve AR 3rd
Aye R Cotton, Tom AR 4th
California
Aye R LaMalfa, Doug CA 1st
No D Huffman, Jared CA 2nd
No D Garamendi, John CA 3rd
Aye R McClintock, Tom CA 4th
No D Thompson, Mike CA 5th
No D Matsui, Doris CA 6th
No D Bera, Ami CA 7th
Aye R Cook, Paul CA 8th
No D McNerney, Jerry CA 9th
No R Denham, Jeff CA 10th
No D Miller, George CA 11th
No D Pelosi, Nancy CA 12th
No D Lee, Barbara CA 13th
No D Speier, Jackie CA 14th
No D Swalwell, Eric CA 15th
No D Costa, Jim CA 16th
No D Honda, Mike CA 17th
No D Eshoo, Anna CA 18th
No D Lofgren, Zoe CA 19th
No D Farr, Sam CA 20th
No R Valadao, David CA 21st
Aye R Nunes, Devin CA 22nd
Aye R McCarthy, Kevin CA 23rd
No D Capps, Lois CA 24th
Aye R McKeon, Buck CA 25th
No D Brownley, Julia CA 26th
No D Chu, Judy CA 27th
No D Schiff, Adam CA 28th
No D Cárdenas, Tony CA 29th
No D Sherman, Brad CA 30th
No Vote R Miller, Gary CA 31st
No D Napolitano, Grace CA 32nd
No Vote D Waxman, Henry CA 33rd
No D Becerra, Xavier CA 34th
No D Negrete McLeod, Gloria CA 35th
No D Ruiz, Raul CA 36th
No D Bass, Karen CA 37th
No D Sánchez, Linda CA 38th
Aye R Royce, Ed CA 39th
No D Roybal-Allard, Lucille CA 40th
No D Takano, Mark CA 41st
Aye R Calvert, Ken CA 42nd
No Vote D Waters, Maxine CA 43rd
No D Hahn, Janice CA 44th
No Vote R Campbell, John CA 45th
No D Sanchez, Loretta CA 46th
No D Lowenthal, Alan CA 47th
Aye R Rohrabacher, Dana CA 48th
Aye R Issa, Darrell CA 49th
Aye R Hunter, Duncan CA 50th
No D Vargas, Juan CA 51st
No D Peters, Scott CA 52nd
No D Davis, Susan CA 53rd
Colorado
No D DeGette, Diana CO 1st
No D Polis, Jared CO 2nd
Aye R Tipton, Scott CO 3rd
Aye R Gardner, Cory CO 4th
Aye R Lamborn, Doug CO 5th
No R Coffman, Mike CO 6th
No D Perlmutter, Ed CO 7th
Connecticut
No D Larson, John CT 1st
No D Courtney, Joe CT 2nd
No D DeLauro, Rosa CT 3rd
No D Himes, James CT 4th
No D Esty, Elizabeth CT 5th
Delaware
No D Carney, John DE
Florida
Aye R Miller, Jeff FL 1st
Aye R Southerland, Steve FL 2nd
Aye R Yoho, Ted FL 3rd
Aye R Crenshaw, Ander FL 4th
No D Brown, Corrine FL 5th
Aye R DeSantis, Ron FL 6th
Aye R Mica, John FL 7th
Aye R Posey, Bill FL 8th
No D Grayson, Alan FL 9th
Aye R Webster, Daniel FL 10th
Aye R Nugent, Richard FL 11th
Aye R Bilirakis, Gus FL 12th
Aye R Jolly, David FL 13th
No D Castor, Kathy FL 14th
Aye R Ross, Dennis FL 15th
Aye R Buchanan, Vern FL 16th
Aye R Rooney, Thomas FL 17th
No D Murphy, Patrick FL 18th
No Vote D Hastings, Alcee FL 20th
No D Deutch, Theodore FL 21st
No D Frankel, Lois FL 22nd
No D Wasserman Schultz, Debbie FL 23rd
No D Wilson, Frederica FL 24th
No R Diaz-Balart, Mario FL 25th
No D Garcia, Joe FL 26th
No Vote R Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana FL 27th
Georgia
Aye R Kingston, Jack GA 1st
No D Bishop, Sanford GA 2nd
Aye R Westmoreland, Lynn GA 3rd
No D Johnson, Hank GA 4th
No Vote D Lewis, John GA 5th
Aye R Price, Tom GA 6th
Aye R Woodall, Rob GA 7th
Aye R Scott, Austin GA 8th
Aye R Collins, Doug GA 9th
Aye R Broun, Paul GA 10th
Aye R Gingrey, Phil GA 11th
Aye D Barrow, John GA 12th
No D Scott, David GA 13th
Aye R Graves, Tom GA 14th
Hawaii
No D Hanabusa, Colleen HI 1st
No D Gabbard, Tulsi HI 2nd
Idaho
Aye R Labrador, Raúl ID 1st
Aye R Simpson, Mike ID 2nd
Illinois
No D Rush, Bobby IL 1st
No D Kelly, Robin IL 2nd
No D Lipinski, Daniel IL 3rd
No D Gutiérrez, Luis IL 4th
No D Quigley, Mike IL 5th
Aye R Roskam, Peter IL 6th
No D Davis, Danny IL 7th
No D Duckworth, Tammy IL 8th
No D Schakowsky, Jan IL 9th
No D Schneider, Bradley IL 10th
No D Foster, Bill IL 11th
No D Enyart, William IL 12th
Aye R Davis, Rodney IL 13th
Aye R Hultgren, Randy IL 14th
Aye R Shimkus, John IL 15th
Aye R Kinzinger, Adam IL 16th
No D Bustos, Cheri IL 17th
Vote Party Representative District
Aye R Schock, Aaron IL 18th
Indiana
No D Visclosky, Peter IN 1st
Aye R Walorski, Jackie IN 2nd
Aye R Stutzman, Marlin IN 3rd
Aye R Rokita, Todd IN 4th
Aye R Brooks, Susan IN 5th
Aye R Messer, Luke IN 6th
No D Carson, André IN 7th
Aye R Bucshon, Larry IN 8th
Aye R Young, Todd IN 9th
Iowa
No D Braley, Bruce IA 1st
No D Loebsack, David IA 2nd
Aye R Latham, Tom IA 3rd
Aye R King, Steve IA 4th
Kansas
Aye R Huelskamp, Tim KS 1st
Aye R Jenkins, Lynn KS 2nd
Aye R Yoder, Kevin KS 3rd
Aye R Pompeo, Mike KS 4th
Kentucky
Aye R Whitfield, Ed KY 1st
Aye R Guthrie, Brett KY 2nd
No D Yarmuth, John KY 3rd
Aye R Massie, Thomas KY 4th
Aye R Rogers, Hal KY 5th
Aye R Barr, Andy KY 6th
Louisiana
Aye R Scalise, Steve LA 1st
No D Richmond, Cedric LA 2nd
Aye R Boustany, Charles LA 3rd
Aye R Fleming, John LA 4th
Aye R McAllister, Vance LA 5th
Aye R Cassidy, Bill LA 6th
Maine
No D Pingree, Chellie ME 1st
No D Michaud, Michael ME 2nd
Maryland
Aye R Harris, Andy MD 1st
No D Ruppersberger, A. Dutch MD 2nd
No D Sarbanes, John MD 3rd
No D Edwards, Donna MD 4th
No D Hoyer, Steny MD 5th
No D Delaney, John MD 6th
No D Cummings, Elijah MD 7th
No D Van Hollen, Chris MD 8th
Massachusetts
No D Neal, Richard MA 1st
No D McGovern, Jim MA 2nd
No D Tsongas, Niki MA 3rd
No D Kennedy, Joseph MA 4th
No D Clark, Katherine MA 5th
No D Tierney, John MA 6th
No D Capuano, Michael MA 7th
No D Lynch, Stephen MA 8th
No D Keating, William MA 9th
Michigan
No Vote R Benishek, Dan MI 1st
Aye R Huizenga, Bill MI 2nd
Aye R Amash, Justin MI 3rd
Aye R Camp, Dave MI 4th
No D Kildee, Daniel MI 5th
Aye R Upton, Fred MI 6th
Aye R Walberg, Tim MI 7th
Aye R Rogers, Mike MI 8th
No D Levin, Sander MI 9th
Aye R Miller, Candice MI 10th
Aye R Bentivolio, Kerry MI 11th
No Vote D Dingell, John MI 12th
No D Conyers, John MI 13th
No D Peters, Gary MI 14th
Minnesota
No D Walz, Timothy MN 1st
Aye R Kline, John MN 2nd
Aye R Paulsen, Erik MN 3rd
No D McCollum, Betty MN 4th
No D Ellison, Keith MN 5th
Aye R Bachmann, Michele MN 6th
No D Peterson, Collin MN 7th
No D Nolan, Richard MN 8th
Mississippi
Aye R Nunnelee, Alan MS 1st
No D Thompson, Bennie MS 2nd
Aye R Harper, Gregg MS 3rd
No Vote R Palazzo, Steven MS 4th
Missouri
No Vote D Clay, Lacy MO 1st
[CO
NLOR="#FF0000"]Aye R Wagner, Ann MO 2nd[/COLOR]
Aye R Luetkemeyer, Blaine MO 3rdo Vote R Hartzler, Vicky MO 4th
No Vote D Cleaver, Emanuel MO 5th
Aye R Graves, Sam MO 6th
Aye R Long, Billy MO 7th
Aye R Smith, Jason MO 8th
Montana
Aye R Daines, Steve MT
Nebraska[B]
[/B]Aye R Fortenberry, Jeff NE 1st
Aye R Terry, Lee NE 2nd
Aye R Smith, Adrian NE 3rd
Nevada
No D Titus, Dina NV 1st
Aye R Amodei, Mark NV 2nd
No R Heck, Joseph NV 3rd
No D Horsford, Steven NV 4th
New Hampshire
No D Shea-Porter, Carol NH 1st
No D Kuster, Ann NH 2nd
New Jersey
Aye R LoBiondo, Frank NJ 2nd
Aye R Runyan, Jon NJ 3rd
Aye R Smith, Chris NJ 4th
Aye R Garrett, Scott NJ 5th
No D Pallone, Frank NJ 6th
Aye R Lance, Leonard NJ 7th
No D Sires, Albio NJ 8th
No D Pascrell, Bill NJ 9th
No D Payne, Donald NJ 10th
Aye R Frelinghuysen, Rodney NJ 11th
No D Holt, Rush NJ 12th
New Mexico
No D Lujan Grisham, Michelle NM 1st
Aye R Pearce, Steve NM 2nd
No D Luján, Ben NM 3rd
New York
No D Bishop, Timothy NY 1st
Aye R King, Pete NY 2nd
No D Israel, Steve NY 3rd
No Vote D McCarthy, Carolyn NY 4th
No D Meeks, Gregory NY 5th
No D Meng, Grace NY 6th
No D Velázquez, Nydia NY 7th
No D Jeffries, Hakeem NY 8th
No D Clarke, Yvette NY 9th
No D Nadler, Jerrold NY 10th
Aye R Grimm, Michael NY 11th
No D Maloney, Carolyn NY 12th
No Vote D Rangel, Charles NY 13th
No D Crowley, Joseph NY 14th
No D Serrano, José NY 15th
No D Engel, Eliot NY 16th
No D Lowey, Nita NY 17th
No D Maloney, Sean NY 18th
Aye R Gibson, Christopher NY 19th
No D Tonko, Paul NY 20th
No D Owens, William NY 21st
Aye R Hanna, Richard NY 22nd
Aye R Reed, Tom NY 23rd
No D Maffei, Daniel NY 24th
No Vote D Slaughter, Louise NY 25th
No D Higgins, Brian NY 26th
Aye R Collins, Chris NY 27th
North Carolina
No D Butterfield, G.K. NC 1st
Aye R Ellmers, Renee NC 2nd
Aye R Jones, Walter NC 3rd
No D Price, David NC 4th
Aye R Foxx, Virginia NC 5th
Aye R Coble, Howard NC 6th
Aye D McIntyre, Mike NC 7th
Vote Party Representative District
Aye R Hudson, Richard NC 8th
Aye R Pittenger, Robert NC 9th
Aye R McHenry, Patrick NC 10th
Aye R Meadows, Mark NC 11th
Aye R Holding, George NC 13th
North Dakota
No Vote R Cramer, Kevin ND
Ohio
Aye R Chabot, Steve OH 1st
Aye R Wenstrup, Brad OH 2nd
No D Beatty, Joyce OH 3rd
Aye R Jordan, Jim OH 4th
Aye R Latta, Robert OH 5th
Aye R Johnson, Bill OH 6th
Aye R Gibbs, Bob OH 7th
No D Kaptur, Marcy OH 9th
Aye R Turner, Michael OH 10th
No D Fudge, Marcia OH 11th
Aye R Tiberi, Pat OH 12th
No D Ryan, Tim OH 13th
Aye R Joyce, David OH 14th
Aye R Stivers, Steve OH 15th
Aye R Renacci, James OH 16th
Oklahoma
Aye R Bridenstine, Jim OK 1st
Aye R Mullin, Markwayne OK 2nd
Aye R Lucas, Frank OK 3rd
Aye R Cole, Tom OK 4th
No Vote R Lankford, James OK 5th
Oregon
No D Bonamici, Suzanne OR 1st
Aye R Walden, Greg OR 2nd
No D Blumenauer, Earl OR 3rd
No D DeFazio, Peter OR 4th
No D Schrader, Kurt OR 5th
Pennsylvania
No D Brady, Robert PA 1st
No D Fattah, Chaka PA 2nd
Aye R Kelly, Mike PA 3rd
Aye R Perry, Scott PA 4th
Aye R Thompson, Glenn PA 5th
Aye R Gerlach, Jim PA 6th
Aye R Meehan, Patrick PA 7th
Aye R Fitzpatrick, Michael PA 8th
No Vote R Shuster, Bill PA 9th
Aye R Marino, Tom PA 10th
Aye R Barletta, Lou PA 11th
Aye R Rothfus, Keith PA 12th
No D Schwartz, Allyson PA 13th
No D Doyle, Mike PA 14th
Aye R Dent, Charles PA 15th
Aye R Pitts, Joseph PA 16th
No D Cartwright, Matthew PA 17th
Aye R Murphy, Tim PA 18th
Rhode Island
No D Cicilline, David RI 1st
No D Langevin, Jim RI 2nd
South Carolina
Aye R Sanford, Mark SC 1st
Aye R Wilson, Joe SC 2nd
Aye R Duncan, Jeff SC 3rd
Aye R Gowdy, Trey SC 4th
Aye R Mulvaney, Mick SC 5th
No D Clyburn, Jim SC 6th
Aye R Rice, Tom SC 7th
South Dakota
Aye R Noem, Kristi SD
Tennessee
Aye R Roe, Phil TN 1st
Aye R Duncan, John TN 2nd
Aye R Fleischmann, Chuck TN 3rd
Aye R DesJarlais, Scott TN 4th
No D Cooper, Jim TN 5th
Aye R Black, Diane TN 6th
Aye R Blackburn, Marsha TN 7th
Aye R Fincher, Stephen TN 8th
No D Cohen, Steve TN 9th
Texas
Aye R Gohmert, Louie TX 1st
Aye R Poe, Ted TX 2nd
Aye R Johnson, Sam TX 3rd
Aye R Hall, Ralph TX 4th
Aye R Hensarling, Jeb TX 5th
No R Barton, Joe TX 6th
Aye R Culberson, John TX 7th
Aye R Brady, Kevin TX 8th
No Vote D Green, Al TX 9th
Aye R McCaul, Michael TX 10th
Aye R Conaway, Michael TX 11th
Aye R Granger, Kay TX 12th
Aye R Thornberry, Mac TX 13th
Aye R Weber, Randy TX 14th
No D Hinojosa, Rubén TX 15th
No D O'Rourke, Beto TX 16th
Aye R Flores, Bill TX 17th
No D Jackson Lee, Sheila TX 18th
Aye R Neugebauer, Randy TX 19th
No D Castro, Joaquin TX 20th
Aye R Smith, Lamar TX 21st
Aye R Olson, Pete TX 22nd
No D Gallego, Pete TX 23rd
Aye R Marchant, Kenny TX 24th
Aye R Williams, Roger TX 25th
Aye R Burgess, Michael TX 26th
No R Farenthold, Blake TX 27th
No D Cuellar, Henry TX 28th
No D Green, Gene TX 29th
No D Johnson, Eddie TX 30th
Aye R Carter, John TX 31st
Aye R Sessions, Pete TX 32nd
No D Veasey, Marc TX 33rd
No Vote D Vela, Filemon TX 34th
No D Doggett, Lloyd TX 35th
Aye R Stockman, Steve TX 36th
Utah
Aye R Bishop, Rob UT 1st
Aye R Stewart, Chris UT 2nd
No Vote R Chaffetz, Jason UT 3rd
No D Matheson, Jim UT 4th
Vermont
No D Welch, Peter VT
Virginia
Aye R Wittman, Robert VA 1st
Aye R Rigell, Scott VA 2nd
No D Scott, Bobby VA 3rd
Aye R Forbes, Randy VA 4th
Aye R Hurt, Robert VA 5th
Aye R Goodlatte, Bob VA 6th
Aye R Cantor, Eric VA 7th
No D Moran, Jim VA 8th
Aye R Griffith, Morgan VA 9th
Aye R Wolf, Frank VA 10th
No D Connolly, Gerald VA 11th
Washington
No D DelBene, Suzan WA 1st
No D Larsen, Rick WA 2nd
No R Herrera Beutler, Jaime WA 3rd
Aye R Hastings, Doc WA 4th
Aye R McMorris Rodgers, Cathy WA 5th
No D Kilmer, Derek WA 6th
No D McDermott, Jim WA 7th
No R Reichert, David WA 8th
No D Smith, Adam WA 9th
No D Heck, Denny WA 10th
West Virginia
Aye R McKinley, David WV 1st
No Vote R Capito, Shelley WV 2nd
No D Rahall, Nick WV 3rd
Wisconsin
Aye R Ryan, Paul WI 1st
No D Pocan, Mark WI 2nd
No D Kind, Ron WI 3rd
No D Moore, Gwen WI 4th
Aye R Sensenbrenner, James WI 5th
Aye R Petri, Tom WI 6th
Aye R Duffy, Sean WI 7th
Aye R Ribble, Reid WI 8th
Wyoming
Aye R Lummis, Cynthia WY

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/113-2014/h266

Ron Paul: Say No To Mandatory Mental Health Screening For Gun Purchases

June 2, 2014 by Ron Paul

Last week Americans were shocked and saddened by another mass killing, this one near a college campus in California. We all feel deep sympathy for the families of the victims.



As usual, many people responded to this shooting by calling for new Federal gun control laws, including the mental health screening of anyone attempting to purchase a firearm. There are a number of problems with this proposal. Federally-mandated mental health screenings would require storing mental health records in a government database. This obviously raises concerns about patient privacy and doctor-patient confidentiality, as well as the threat of identity theft. Anyone who doubts that these are legitimate concerns should consider the enormous privacy problems with the Obamacare website; some have even suggested that healthcare.gov be renamed indentifytheft.gov.
Giving government the power to bar some Americans from owning guns by labeling them as “mentally ill” could easily lead to serious abuses. Even authors of mental health manuals admit that mental health diagnoses are subjective and can be based on “social constructions.” Thus, anyone whose behavior deviates from some “norm” could find himself deprived of his 2^nd Amendment, and possibly other, rights.
People could be even be labeled “mentally ill” because they are outspoken critics of the government. Currently, as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Vigilant Eagle” program, veterans who express dissatisfaction with government polices run the risk of being labeled mentally-unstable terrorist threats. There has also been at least one Federally-funded violence prevention program that determined that holding certain political and social views indicates a propensity for violence. So there is precedent for labeling those with unpopular political beliefs as being “mentally ill.”
We have also seen how U.S. Presidents from both parties have used the IRS to target political opponents. Imagine the potential for abuse if those same politicians had access to the mental health records of their political opponents, or the power to label opponents mentally ill because those opponents were “dissatisfied” with the government?
People who say that the threat to liberty posed by mental health screenings is outweighed by the enhanced security they provide should consider that expanding background checks and mental health screening is unlikely to make us safer. Professor Richard Alan Friedman, director of the Psychopharmacology Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College, has written that it is imposable to predict whether an individual will act in a violent manner.
One effective way to limit mass shootings may be to repeal gun control laws that, by disarming the law-abiding, turn the innocent into victims. Like most recent shootings, this one took place in a location where the attacker could be confident his intended targets could not defend themselves. It is interesting that even though the attacker used hammers and knives on some of the victims, no one is calling for background checks on those wishing to purchase hammers.
Instead of focusing on passing more laws, our focus should be replacing the entitlement culture with a culture of self-responsibility and respect for the rights of others. Government can help this process by ending its routine violation of our rights and the use of violence as a means to achieve domestic and foreign policy goals. This is not to suggest that government policies are directly responsible for the shootings, but it is not unreasonable to suggest that growing up in a time of preemptive war may feed a deranged person’s delusion that violence is a proper way to deal with personal frustrations. Fixing the culture is much more difficult than passing new laws but is the only way to guarantee our liberty and our security.

http://personalliberty.com/ron-paul-...gun-purchases/