Quote Originally Posted by mrspunkysmom View Post
This is a sticky subject. My maternal grandmother was sent to a home for feeble-minded women when she was 11. Her mother had died and her father split the kids up among various relatives. She was sent there because she knew how her mother had died and threatened to tell. Her mother died from a hat-pin abortion in 1911. No tests were done; no criteria were met. She was required to stay her whole life, but obviously managed to escape. It wasn't that hard. She was so trusted that she took care of others, esp children and had weekend passes.

I do think that those diagnosed with certain mental illnesses should be required to take their medicines. This isn't a violation of personal freedom. Either take the medicine or go to jail. The problem we face is which illnesses do we pick? We already do not allow those with seizures to drive. Diabetics are not forbidden to drive but have difficulty getting jobs a professional drivers. And rightly so. I very seldom have lows and none are severe, but others have a lot of difficulty.

As far as guns go. You have to qualify for a driver's license. Why not other dangerous equipment?
Whether or not you have to have a license to own a gun varies state to state, I believe. I have a gun license somewhere - not a pistol permit, but a lower level one. I do not own a gun, but want to be covered, just in case I ever did, particularly with some of the more historic guns in the family. I have not fired a gun in several years, but still know how.