There's a specific definition of "mental illness" in the concealed pistol law.
Quote:
"Mental illness" means a substantial disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life, and includes, but is not limited to, clinical depression.
(Emphasis mine.)
So it depends on what the doctor writes.
And it hasn't been tested by the courts, either. Does it include minor depression? I would argue that given the primary focus of the definition, it only includes depression severe enought to be a "substantial disorder . . . etc."
Depression comes in many forms and gradations. When U-M beats my Spartans on the gridiron, I'm depressed -- for all of one minute. But I'm pretty sure that's not clinical depression, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not ineligible for a CPL every time MSU gets its ass kicked.
On the other hand, if one had suicidal thoughts and was seriously convinced that life wasn't worth living, that might rise to the level of clinical depression that disqualfies one.
So how about temporary depression. You lose your job; your marriage fails, your dog dies, or worse: you run out of beer. Is that clinical depression?
When I've argued it before gun boards, it seems to come down as to whether the doctor calls it "clinical depression."
__________________
Attorney at Law
NRA Pistol Instructor Class Graduate, RSO
The comments made here are mine alone and do not necessary reflect the views and opinions of Michigan Gun Owners or any other person.