Wow, it's interesting to see the same thing going on here as at THR. People who only read the GOA spin complaining about the NRA's sellout and the Back alley dark of night "Voice Vote".
Well, let's just get the facts out on the table.
1. It wasn't a voice vote, it was "unanimous consent" in both houses. That means all 535 Representatives and 100 Senators are on the record as voting "YES". You a want to know how your rep or senator voted ?? It's simple, they voted "YES". Yep, all of them, including Ron Paul. Any one of those 635 could have said "Whoa Nelly, I want everybody to cast and record their vote." But they would have looked very foolish since there was nobody that said they were going to vote "NO".
2. Previously there was only one way get off the "No guns for you" list and Sen Schumer blocked funding for that BATFE program. Now each state and Federal agency that can put you on the list has to have a way to take you off (known as relief from disability program). Oh and if he does block funding to the Federal Agencies (He'll have a real hard time blocking funding in all 50 state legislatures), then after a year you can sue in court. De Novo, which basically means "New Trial" as in "start over", meaning that have to prove all over again to keep you on the list, not a continuation of what put you on the list in the first place.
3. Then there's the whole getting put on the list in the first place. During the Clinton administration, Bill basically called over to the VA and said "Hey, anyone that ever came to see you about PTSD or any mental health issue, send those names over so that NICS can put them on the list. Due Process, nahh, they don't need due process, just get them on the list." And POOF, 88,000 to 144,000 veterans lost their 2A rights forever, with no chance to present their case. Oh, and they had no way to get their rights back. Now, you have to be adjudicated. That means a hearing, you can have lawyer (or six), present witnesses, present and refute testimony, etc. A diagnosis is NOT adjudication. Even being mentally ill is not enough. You have to be adjudicated (there's that word again) as a danger to yourself or others. And if you get better/cured you can apply to get your right restored. If the agency says "NO" or does nothing about your application for year, you can go to court and sue. And it's a whole new trial, and if you win the .gov has to pay your legal bills.
You think you need to go to the VA and talk to someone about PTSD, please do, because now it won't jeporadize your 2A rights (unless you are a danger to yourself or others). But "Hey Doc, I'm having bad dreams, can I talk about it with you.", won't get you put on the list.
Te Anau,
I'll make it easy for you. Stop reading the press releases and spin. Here's a link to actual bill, with the words spelled out and everything. Read it for yourself and then post WHAT YOU THINK it says/means.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-2640
And here's 922(g)(4) of Title 18 USC
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose
of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable
cause to believe that such person--
(1) is under indictment for, or has been convicted in any court
of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one
year;
(2) is a fugitive from justice;
(3) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled
substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances
Act (21 U.S.C. 802));
(4) has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been
committed to any mental institution;
And there's the "adjudicated" word again. It must mean something completely different from "diagnosed", right ??? Otherwise they would have said "diagnosed".