Jacobs is a director of the Center for Research in Crime and Justice at New York University School of Law, a professor of constitutional law. Putting restrictions on those who are mentally ill from owning firearms is not the answer. Currently federal law states that if someone has been involuntarily committed or found mentally defective by the courts they are ineligible from owning a firearm. If the laws were changed to put restrictions anyone suffering from a mental issue, such as depression or anxiety then they may never seek treatment. Tighter restrictions for the mentally ill could not work realistically. Restrictions could create a backlash of untreated mentally ill gun
Jacobs is a director of the Center for Research in Crime and Justice at New York University School of Law, a professor of constitutional law. Putting restrictions on those who are mentally ill from owning firearms is not the answer. Currently federal law states that if someone has been involuntarily committed or found mentally defective by the courts they are ineligible from owning a firearm. If the laws were changed to put restrictions anyone suffering from a mental issue, such as depression or anxiety then they may never seek treatment. Tighter restrictions for the mentally ill could not work realistically. Restrictions could create a backlash of untreated mentally ill gun