The Firearm Mental Health Evaluation Act

 

The purpose of this bill is to promote gun safety and responsible firearm ownership by requiring all licensed gun owners

to have a mental health assessment every five to ten years as part of the license renewal process. This policy aims to

ensure that individuals remain mentally fit to possess and operate firearms, helping to reduce the risk of gun-related

accidents, misuse, and violence, and to promote the overall safety and well-being of the public.

 

The justification for this bill. Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts have a heightened

risk of death by suicide if they have access to firearms. About 70% of veterans commit suicide with a firearm, and this

is an example of why mental health assessments before people own firearms are necessary. According to the Philadelphia

Mental Health Center, about two-thirds of U.S. firearm deaths are suicides, and about 20% of suicides are by individuals

with untreated and/or undiagnosed mental illness. An analysis of active mass shooters shows evidence that many of the

killers had severe mental health problems that involved their killings. To conclude this, I believe that people need to

have a mental health assessment before being able to possess a firearm.

 

Definitions

Assessment: the evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something

First Offense: a person's initial criminal violation of the law

State-approved instructors: The approved people you take your gun license assessment.

 

The Minnesota Department of Human Resources will be funding the state-approved instructors at the time you take your gun

license assessment

 

The Penalties and Enforcement for this bill.

According to the source, Legal Clarity, A first Offense of carrying an unlicensed gun can be penalized with A fine of up

to $3,000 or up to 364 days in jail. A repeated offense of carrying an unlicensed gun can result in a fine of up to

$10,000 or more, and one to ten years in prison, which can change depending on what you are being charged for. This will

be enforced by the people who are selling guns; they will also continue to do normal background checks.

 

The Effective Date for this bill is January 1, 2027