Concealed carry and mental treatment - The Firearms Forum

ilovenxstage · 05-11-2012, 08:01 PM

Ok, I am wanting to apply for an Indiana concealed carry permit, but I know they ask if you have had any treatment for mental illness. I have had treatment for acute depression and anxiety after a lot of physical health problems I've had. I can't be sure that a psychiatrist would "approve" of me having a CCW permit, but my question is, are they even allowed to look in my medical records to see that I HAVE had mental treatment? I meet every other requirement in the state to be issued a CCW.

Rocketman1 · 05-11-2012, 09:44 PM

I don't think that treatment for depression and anxiety would be considered a mental illness. I believe the question on the form is "Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness? (Yes or No)

See what the Doc syas.

armoredman · 05-12-2012, 12:07 AM

That is something you need to discuss with a CCW Instructor in your area and an attorney conversant with the law. Good luck!

whymememe · 05-12-2012, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovenxstage

Ok, I am wanting to apply for an Indiana concealed carry permit, but I know they ask if you have had any treatment for mental illness. I have had treatment for acute depression and anxiety after a lot of physical health problems I've had. I can't be sure that a psychiatrist would "approve" of me having a CCW permit, but my question is, are they even allowed to look in my medical records to see that I HAVE had mental treatment? I meet every other requirement in the state to be issued a CCW.

They are only allowed to access your medical records if you sign a release of medical information form. Its called HIPPA. Its the privacy act. I wouldn't even ask the psychiatrist/ (quackiatrist).

hogger129 · 05-12-2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocketman1

I don't think that treatment for depression and anxiety would be considered a mental illness. I believe the question on the form is "Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness? (Yes or No)

See what the Doc syas.

+1

I am pretty sure you either have had to have been diagnosed with a mental illness or been committed to some kind of a mental institution in order to be disqualified on "mental issues" grounds. Pretty sure depression and anxiety doesn't quality as that.

jstgsn · 05-12-2012, 09:42 PM

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the conservative half of the country has been depressed since O has been elected.

Rocketman1 · 05-12-2012, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstgsn

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the conservative half of the country has been depressed since O has been elected.

Thats whats wrong with me.
Maybe I will feel better in September.

76Highboy · 05-12-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocketman1

I don't think that treatment for depression and anxiety would be considered a mental illness. I believe the question on the form is "Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness? (Yes or No)

See what the Doc syas.

I agree. I would just answer no on that.

permafrost · 05-13-2012, 03:09 PM

Your state Bureau of Investigation (or whatever passes for that) should have a website. Go there and look for the CCW page. It should tell you exactly what your state considers a mental illness.

raven818 · 05-13-2012, 03:31 PM

If you have a personal relationship with the treating physician. Ask them if they reported it. " just curious if something like I 'had' is reported, it might interfere with a job later on '.

RunningOnMT · 05-13-2012, 08:08 PM

OK, to be denied the right to purchase a firearm under federal regulations, which I'm sure you know, asks if you have been adjudicated mentally ill or confined to a mental hospital against your will, or words to that effect. "Adjudicated" means a judge has ordered you into treatment. Without that court order under circumstances a person may be confined for a period of up to 72 hours, without their consent, for observation. As long as you've never been hospitalized against your will, you're ok to purchase.

Being issued a permit to carry is another matter. I could be wrong but I imagine there are some municipalities where you would be required to sign a form giving them permission to access your records as a prerequisite to being issued a permit. Most times the permits are issued with the approval of the county sheriff or in some cases the local police chief. I have heard of local sheriffs making arbitrary decisions denying concealed carry permits, an act I personally believe is unconstitutional, but they do it.

Not knowing your state and local laws I can't answer the question, but I don't believe they will deny you the right to carry for depression alone, unless there was information that you were so severely depressed that you might harm yourself, for example if you have attempted suicide in the past. Barring that I think you'll be OK. If a history of depression was enough to be denied the right to carry, there'd be a whole lot fewer people carrying. Depression in this day and age is a sign of sanity.

05-11-2012, 08:01 PM	#1
ilovenxstage V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 144	Concealed carry and mental treatment Ok, I am wanting to apply for an Indiana concealed carry permit, but I know they ask if you have had any treatment for mental illness. I have had treatment for acute depression and anxiety after a lot of physical health problems I've had. I can't be sure that a psychiatrist would "approve" of me having a CCW permit, but my question is, are they even allowed to look in my medical records to see that I HAVE had mental treatment? I meet every other requirement in the state to be issued a CCW. __________________ 1938 Mosin Nagant 91/30 H. Schmidt 22 revolver Heritage Rough Rider .22 revolver Marlin 25 .22 rifle NEF Pardner 12ga shotgun Winchester 1200 12ga shotgun CVA Buckhorn .50 muzzleloader "A gun is not a weapon, Marge. It's a tool. Like a butcher knife...or a harpoon, or......an alligator!" -Homer Simpson "Don't push it under the rug, don't forget it, because it's going to happen again." -Josephine Harris, 9/11 survivor -->

05-11-2012, 09:44 PM	#2
Rocketman1 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,097	Re: Concealed carry and mental treatment I don't think that treatment for depression and anxiety would be considered a mental illness. I believe the question on the form is "Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness? (Yes or No) See what the Doc syas. __________________ There is no such thing as a gun accident. Irresponsible gun owners cause so-called gun accidents.

05-12-2012, 12:07 AM	#3
armoredman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Proud to be in Arizona Posts: 1,367	Re: Concealed carry and mental treatment That is something you need to discuss with a CCW Instructor in your area and an attorney conversant with the law. Good luck!

05-12-2012, 09:42 PM	#6
jstgsn Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Milford, Delaware Contributor Posts: 1,271	Re: Concealed carry and mental treatment Actually, I'm pretty sure that the conservative half of the country has been depressed since O has been elected. __________________ Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he will just kill you.

05-13-2012, 03:09 PM	#9
permafrost Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma, USA Contributor Posts: 1,771	Re: Concealed carry and mental treatment Your state Bureau of Investigation (or whatever passes for that) should have a website. Go there and look for the CCW page. It should tell you exactly what your state considers a mental illness. __________________ Stand and Fight

05-13-2012, 03:31 PM	#10
raven818 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Jax, Fl. Contributor Posts: 4,423	Re: Concealed carry and mental treatment If you have a personal relationship with the treating physician. Ask them if they reported it. " just curious if something like I 'had' is reported, it might interfere with a job later on '. __________________ Firearms and Salt Water Fishing Retired 42 Years LEO

05-13-2012, 08:08 PM	#11
RunningOnMT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Akron, Ohio Contributor Posts: 4,720	Re: Concealed carry and mental treatment OK, to be denied the right to purchase a firearm under federal regulations, which I'm sure you know, asks if you have been adjudicated mentally ill or confined to a mental hospital against your will, or words to that effect. "Adjudicated" means a judge has ordered you into treatment. Without that court order under circumstances a person may be confined for a period of up to 72 hours, without their consent, for observation. As long as you've never been hospitalized against your will, you're ok to purchase. Being issued a permit to carry is another matter. I could be wrong but I imagine there are some municipalities where you would be required to sign a form giving them permission to access your records as a prerequisite to being issued a permit. Most times the permits are issued with the approval of the county sheriff or in some cases the local police chief. I have heard of local sheriffs making arbitrary decisions denying concealed carry permits, an act I personally believe is unconstitutional, but they do it. Not knowing your state and local laws I can't answer the question, but I don't believe they will deny you the right to carry for depression alone, unless there was information that you were so severely depressed that you might harm yourself, for example if you have attempted suicide in the past. Barring that I think you'll be OK. If a history of depression was enough to be denied the right to carry, there'd be a whole lot fewer people carrying. Depression in this day and age is a sign of sanity. __________________ "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"