Everyone should know the laws about firearms in your state and surrounding states!
Do you own a weapon? Do you know your state gun laws? Should you own a firearm if you have a mental illness or an addiction to alcohol or drugs?
Read this blog to find out more. You might be surprised.
I have always liked guns, and I've always loved shooting guns. My husband and I actually used to love going to the shooting range with friends and even alone to practice and compare our shots with each other. It's just always been a happy time for me to go and shoot. I've always been a pretty good shot too. I mean, I could always be better, but was pretty good too. My passion actually has always been bow shooting. Sadly I can't do that anymore because I have severe pain in my wrists. Anyway, I'm getting off subject. Squirrel!
In the state of Kansas, it's legal to carry a firearm without a permit. So there are not many times we will leave our house without a weapon.
Years ago, we decided we wanted to go take the actual class in Kansas to get our carry license. It was an all day class and we knew a lot of it, but we also learned a lot taking the class. Totally worth the money just to get more knowledge about gun laws and the do's and don'ts of gun ownership. And the best part? You get to go with the Law Enforcement officer who is teaching the class to take the actual shooting test at the range with everyone else who's taking the class with you that day. I was so proud of myself. I outshot all of the other women in the class and even out shot my husband that day LOL. (He will be mad that I told everyone). And getting to take that certificate home that you passed the class is the best feeling ever.
This is the thing though. A few years after getting my certificate was when I was diagnosed with some mental health issues. And then last year, I was held in the suicide unit overnight at the hospital and not long after that, I admitted myself to a rehab facility for alcohol abuse.
I guess you can say that I'm still waiting for that letter from the State of Kansas telling me that I cann't legally own a firearm registered in my name anymore.
So here are some of the laws in my state of Kansas pertaining to owning a firearm with mental health conditions or a history of an addiction.
~ Kansas law prohibits individuals who are subject to involuntary commitment for care and treatment of mental illness or alcohol/substance abuse problems from possessing firearms.
~ Upon a finding that a person is a danger to self or others, the court must notify the individual that firearm possession is a violation of the law.
~ The state hospital must also notify the patient upon release that firearm possession is prohibited and provide information on the restoration procedure.
Click the button below to find out your State gun laws.
With all of this being explained, my husband and I do have 4 weapons in our home. We do keep them put up away from reach of anyone but ourselves. Our little town can be very sketchy. A lot of meth heads here and thieves. The weapons are all registered in my husbands name. I don't carry personally on myself anymore when we leave the home to go somewhere, but my husband will for protection at times.
Honestly, I don't personally feel comfortable carrying in public anymore with the medications that I'm on anyway, but I will tell you, if someone breaks into our home to harm or to hurt me or my family, I will have no problem shooting them to protect myself.
I really hope this can help someone else in my situation to understand the guns laws when it comes to mental illness and addiction.
Thank you so much for reading!
xoxoxo, Michelle Neal