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SecularMotion

(7,981 posts)
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 06:24 AM Mar 2016

When Can the Government Take Away Your Guns?

Ralph Gilbertson, a 74-year-old living in Richfield, Minnesota, thinks the CIA is watching him. He thinks agents are impersonating his neighbors and the local cops, and he has sent letters out to the managers of his apartment building saying so. He also thinks that the cops' recent seizure of his guns is unconstitutional, and he's likely right.

His weapons—he has three handguns, which he's licensed to carry—were taken away by the police after his building managers called a city agency worried about the apparent combination of firearms and paranoia that he represented, reported the Star-Tribune on Sunday.

But Gilbertson is challenging the seizure of his weapons in a case that shows just how complicated it is to take away someone's guns in America.

While his disposition may make his neighbors nervous, Gilbertson isn't a convicted felon, hasn't been charged with domestic violence, and no court or psychiatrist has ruled he's a ticking time bomb. (He suffers from a mild form of bipolar disorder, but according to the Star-Tribune, "his psychiatrist sent a letter to the judge saying that Gilbertsen is compliant with his medications and poses no danger to himself or others.&quot

https://www.vice.com/read/when-can-the-government-take-away-your-guns
31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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When Can the Government Take Away Your Guns? (Original Post) SecularMotion Mar 2016 OP
Guns are people, too, my friend. And guns have civil rights, just like you, me, and... stone space Mar 2016 #1
We have to be careful when removing rights to make people feel good. ileus Mar 2016 #2
Removing guns is not the same thing as removing rights. stone space Mar 2016 #3
Read the constitution much? Puha Ekapi Mar 2016 #4
Not the Scalia approved annotated version. stone space Mar 2016 #5
The old no one owned guns until Scalia allowed them to argument. ileus Mar 2016 #6
So tell me.. Puha Ekapi Mar 2016 #7
Your qualifiers, not mine. stone space Mar 2016 #13
Aaaaannnnnd, Stoney leaps into his trusty... Puha Ekapi Mar 2016 #18
Where did those qualifiers come from? stone space Mar 2016 #20
What is your position on private gun ownership? Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2016 #23
I'm sorry that the subtleties... Puha Ekapi Mar 2016 #24
This is what I support: stone space Mar 2016 #25
I think that wins the Evasion of the Year award. Straw Man Mar 2016 #26
Perhaps this will make it easier discntnt_irny_srcsm Mar 2016 #27
Notice how he runs away Duckhunter935 Mar 2016 #28
Perhaps not fear but a lack of articulation discntnt_irny_srcsm Mar 2016 #29
Now he will think you attack his profession and alert on you Duckhunter935 Mar 2016 #30
How about the Democratic Party approved annotated version? hack89 Mar 2016 #9
I'm sure our friend.. Puha Ekapi Mar 2016 #10
I've traveled to Washington to inform the Supremes of my disagreement with them before. stone space Mar 2016 #14
The Iowa Socialist Party? Do they still even exist? stone space Mar 2016 #12
Sorry. Thought you were a Democrat. nt hack89 Mar 2016 #15
I crash the Party and caucus with the Democrats every 4 years. stone space Mar 2016 #19
I have no problem with it hack89 Mar 2016 #21
SPUSA in Austin sometimes met for target practice in the Hill Country. Eleanors38 Mar 2016 #31
So, I take it you oppose Scalia's opinions on Texas v. Johnson, Maryland v. King... Marengo Mar 2016 #17
Actually, it is the same thing. Waldorf Mar 2016 #11
Unless it's firearms...then it's OK and considered "progressive" ileus Mar 2016 #16
Do you recall that the opening battle in the American war for independence was fought because Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2016 #22
The government can take your guns away TeddyR Mar 2016 #8
 

stone space

(6,498 posts)
1. Guns are people, too, my friend. And guns have civil rights, just like you, me, and...
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 07:22 AM
Mar 2016

...the Bank of America.

Even guns owned by crazy people still have civil rights that must be respected, under the Second Commandment.


ileus

(15,396 posts)
2. We have to be careful when removing rights to make people feel good.
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 07:59 AM
Mar 2016

I don't like that my neighbor is a trump fan, who do I call to get his rights taken away?

I remember reading here more than once people who want to own guns period have mental health problems...What is to keep any one of us from turning in a neighbor that we disagree with?

Always remember, guns don't have rights...people do.


 

stone space

(6,498 posts)
3. Removing guns is not the same thing as removing rights.
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 08:07 AM
Mar 2016
We have to be careful when removing rights to make people feel good.


You might call it removing wrongs, however.

Removing wrongs is different from removing rights.

You are conflating the two.



ileus

(15,396 posts)
6. The old no one owned guns until Scalia allowed them to argument.
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 08:47 AM
Mar 2016

maybe you're right...


 

stone space

(6,498 posts)
13. Your qualifiers, not mine.
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 11:33 AM
Mar 2016
So tell me..

...is it your desire that there be no legal civilian ownership of firearms?




Puha Ekapi

(594 posts)
18. Aaaaannnnnd, Stoney leaps into his trusty...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 08:01 AM
Mar 2016

...Dodge and speeds away. Nice non-answer there, friend.

 

stone space

(6,498 posts)
20. Where did those qualifiers come from?
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 09:14 AM
Mar 2016

They have nothing to do with any position of mine.

Puha Ekapi

(594 posts)
24. I'm sorry that the subtleties...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 11:39 AM
Mar 2016

...of a simple question are taxing you so. Let's make this real easy. Are you opposed to citizen ownership of firearms? Are you not opposed?

Straw Man

(6,799 posts)
26. I think that wins the Evasion of the Year award.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:27 PM
Mar 2016

"Rather than answer your simple question, I will require you to watch a 90-minute video in which there may or may not be something tangentially related to the issue."

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,602 posts)
27. Perhaps this will make it easier
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:34 PM
Mar 2016
Do you accept the citizen ownership of firearms?

For a NO simply put the word "no" in the subject line of your reply.

Reply with a subject other than "no" or just don't reply at all and I'll accept that as a yes.

thanks

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,602 posts)
29. Perhaps not fear but a lack of articulation
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 05:58 PM
Mar 2016

Sometimes mathematical folk lack the ability to say what they think in a complete, correct and concise manner.

hack89

(39,180 posts)
9. How about the Democratic Party approved annotated version?
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 09:12 AM
Mar 2016

the one that says the 2A protects an individual right to keep and bear arms? Are you even familiar with your party's platform?

Puha Ekapi

(594 posts)
10. I'm sure our friend..
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 09:21 AM
Mar 2016

...is on a plane to Washington to get that corrected ASAP. Then we can all fart rainbows and ride unicorns.

 

stone space

(6,498 posts)
14. I've traveled to Washington to inform the Supremes of my disagreement with them before.
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 11:35 AM
Mar 2016
I'm sure our friend..

...is on a plane to Washington to get that corrected ASAP. Then we can all fart rainbows and ride unicorns.


I'm not sure why you find that so funny.

 

stone space

(6,498 posts)
12. The Iowa Socialist Party? Do they still even exist?
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 11:31 AM
Mar 2016
Are you even familiar with your party's platform?


We were affiliated with the SPUSA back in the day, but no, I haven't seen their current platform.

Have you?



 

stone space

(6,498 posts)
19. I crash the Party and caucus with the Democrats every 4 years.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 09:12 AM
Mar 2016
Sorry. Thought you were a Democrat. nt


Mainly because they let me. In fact, at the Iowa Democratic Caucus, participation has always been not only permitted, but actively encouraged. It's just how things work here.





hack89

(39,180 posts)
21. I have no problem with it
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 09:39 AM
Mar 2016

while it does sometimes generate conflict I think a wide range of people and ideas are healthy for any political party.

 

Marengo

(3,477 posts)
17. So, I take it you oppose Scalia's opinions on Texas v. Johnson, Maryland v. King...
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 10:38 PM
Mar 2016

or Brown v. Entertainment Merchants?

Waldorf

(654 posts)
11. Actually, it is the same thing.
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 11:25 AM
Mar 2016

He legally owns the firearms. Taking something without due process is wrong.

ileus

(15,396 posts)
16. Unless it's firearms...then it's OK and considered "progressive"
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 01:04 PM
Mar 2016

how fucked up is that???


Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
22. Do you recall that the opening battle in the American war for independence was fought because
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 10:41 AM
Mar 2016

the British government was attempting to seize privately owned weapons?

I'm not sure how you can claim the founders saw no private right to own guns after the began a rebellion over the right to own guns.

 

TeddyR

(2,493 posts)
8. The government can take your guns away
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 09:04 AM
Mar 2016

When you are a convicted felon or a convicted domestic abuser. They don't get to take away a fundamental right when one of your neighbors thinks you are acting a little strange. And California's initiative to seize people's firearms is exactly why many people oppose mandatory registration.

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