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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 16, 2016 11:03 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Michael H. O'Brien |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Legislation Prohibiting the Mentally Ill from Possessing Firearms |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation that would prohibit the possession of firearms by individuals who have been ordered to undergo involuntary mental health treatment on an outpatient basis. My bill seeks to clear up the current ambiguity in Pennsylvania law relating to involuntary mental health treatment and possessing firearms. Under current law, individuals who have been involuntarily committed for mental health treatment are ineligible to possess a firearm. However, if a person has been ordered to undergo mental health treatment on an outpatient basis, he or she is still eligible to possess a firearm. I believe that, regardless of whether mental health treatment is in-patient or out-patient, if an individual is committed for treatment or ordered to receive outpatient treatment, he or she should be prohibited from possessing a firearm until the court determines that the individual is no longer a danger to himself or other people. The intent of my bill is to prevent or limit harm to family members, the general public, and law enforcement officers, as well as preventing mentally ill individuals from causing serious bodily harm to themselves. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. Thank you in advance for your consideration. |
Introduced as HB22