Bill on Gov. Rick Scott's desk divides gun rights activists

[spin]

3. Marion Hammer was the driving force behind the passage of many of the pro-gun rights laws ...

in Florida including "shall issue" concealed carry, stand your ground self defense and take your gun to work.

If she favors the governor signing a law that would restrict the purchase of firearms by certain people there has to be a legitimate reason for her support. There is:

"Gun owners are being deceived by reckless people who are sending out email blasts attacking the bill as being anti-Second Amendment," Hammer wrote.

The premise of the bill is relatively simple. It would extend a ban on purchasing firearms to people who voluntarily seek mental health treatment after being examined under Florida's Baker Act statutes. The Baker Act applies to people deemed a danger to themselves or others.

Under current law, people involuntarily committed for treatment are prohibited from purchasing a firearm, but those who volunteer are not.

Volunteering for treatment is more common. Miami-Dade County Judge Steve Leifman told the Times/Herald that only 1 percent of the 115,000 people processed under the Baker Act last year were involuntarily committed. The other 99 percent voluntarily submitted to treatment, which means they could purchase guns upon their release.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/bill-awaiting-gov-rick-scotts-signature-has-gun-rights-activists-sharply/2127972

Obviously those people who have deemed as being a danger to themselves or others under the Baker Act should not be able to walk into a gun store and purchase a firearm when released.

Florida Mental Health Act
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Florida Mental Health Act of 1971 (commonly known as the "Baker Act&quot Florida Statute 394.451 (2009 rev.) allowing for involuntary examination of an individual.

The Baker Act allows for involuntary examination (what some call emergency or involuntary commitment). It can be initiated by judges, law enforcement officials, physicians, or mental health professionals. There must be evidence that the person:
has a mental illness (as defined in the Baker Act).
is a harm to self, harm to others, or self neglectful (as defined in the Baker Act)....emphasis added

Examinations may last up to 72 hours after a person is deemed medically stable and occur in over 100 Florida Department of Children and Families-designated receiving facilities statewide.

There are many possible outcomes following examination of the patient. This includes the release of the individual to the community (or other community placement), a petition for involuntary inpatient placement (what some call civil commitment), involuntary outpatient placement (what some call outpatient commitment or assisted treatment orders), or voluntary treatment (if the person is competent to consent to voluntary treatment and consents to voluntary treatment). The involuntary outpatient placement language in the Baker Act took effect in 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Mental_Health_Act