The suspensions were ordered, sources say, because the ex-cops had applied for or had received Social Security benefits involving a mental illness — a circumstance that would contradict what they told the NYPD to get their gun permits.
It looks like the cops are suffering from such things as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, an issue that in no other state that I can think of is reason to bar someone their right to keep and bear arms, and certainly not federally. The issue of whether the claims are fraudulent aside, NYC should not be able to revoke someone’s rights at a whim.
And these are the kinds of reasonable gun laws that Mayor Mike and his merry band of Illegal Mayors want to bring to the rest of America.
At the risk of sounding like I am on Bloomberg’s side–there is a lot of really sleazy stuff done under cover of job-related mental stress disability. There was a cop in the Bay Area that I knew somewhat who had made a claim that he was unable to work anymore because his hypermasculinity caused him to take unnecessary risks–as part of his effort to get a service-related disability. Not surprisingly, the sheriff took him at his work about hypermasculinity and unnecessary risks when pulling his retired cop carry permit.
The first members of the Santa Monica Rent Control Board apparently found the job very stressful–and within a few years, many of them had retired on stress-related mental problems, receiving lifetime disability checks that meant that they didn’t have to work anymore (and these were leftwing activists in their 30s), and had lifetime health insurance from the city government.
Great scam, isn’t it?
To me they are separate issues. It’s fine to pursue them for fraudulent claims, and if they wanted to revoke after they were convicted, that would be another matter. But their reason for revocation would seem to be “Well, you say you have PTSD, so in that instance we’re not issuing you a license.”
No question that they are separate issues. I’m inclined to think that PTSD alone isn’t sufficient reason to disarm anyone. Unlike a soldier, who is unlikely to be in any great danger now that he is back home, a retired police officer’s fears may be completely and utterly factually based. It’s just that there is a lot of sleaziness in the way that a lot of these claims are set up.
Should disability fraud preclude 2A rights?
“Should disability fraud preclude 2A rights?”
No. My guess is that the purpose of trying to revoke their permits to get them to withdraw what the city believes (and perhaps with good reason) are fraudulent disability claims.
Then the question becomes, can the city infringe on their rights to force them to drop a (possibly fraudulent) claim? For a trivial example, could NYC refuse to issue a library card to someone who made a vision-based disability claim (Not necessarily 100% blindness) that nyc has reason to believe was fraudulent?
Wither or not PTSD is a disqualifier or not, they still lied on their permit application, most likely that’s a crime in and of itself.
Is it legal for Social Security/payroll/benefits/etc. to share that kind of medical claim information with the department in charge of the licensing? I would think there would be confidentiality issues.
Presumably they got a waiver from the applicant. NJ requires a waiver for medical confidentiality to apply for any firearms-related permit, for example
As much as I despise Bloomberg, this may not be the best cause to champion. How crazy do you have to be for the NYPD to officially admit you’re crazy?
Depends. If, as speculated, they are making a disability claim for PSTD, they could both be “disabled” and still mentally healthy enough to safely handle a firearm
I know a guy that got PTSD in the USMC, and when he got out, he kept it secret, even though he would have gotten 100% disability. Why? Because he thought they would use his “history of mental illness” as an excuse to take his guns away. I told him just to take the money and buy guns without a paper trail, but he said “No way. You need guns more than you need sleep”.
So now what we get is a situation where people who have problems and need help just bottle everything up and don’t get any counseling because they’re afraid they’ll lose their civil rights if they have any kind of medical record. Great. Wonderful. What could possibly go wrong when you convert a medical record into a de facto criminal record?
There are no shades of grey any more. No judgment, no judging. Is your Marine friend more “worthy” to possess a firearm than someone with psychotic tendencies? (I hope you can guess my answer, of course)
I was a first responder at the World Trade Center attacks and aftermath. At the time I was assigned to the Narcotics Division. I retired with a standard pension, was appointed to the FBI (civilian operative) when I became ill from exposure. Although the process took about 7 years, I was first awarded Victim’s Compensation, SSDI, then finally NYPD Disability, under the NYD 9/11 Presumptive Law. We kept the house after all.
I did not submit to psychological screening after the attacks; like the rest of us, I wanted to continue in law enforcement, and my weapons (as well as the right to carry them) and of course, the aftermath of over 1000 apprehensions made during my career. Somebody might want to settle a score. Thus I did not seek counseling.
My disability is a lock, due to pulmonary problems and nodules, which have migrated from my lungs to the lymph nodes and spleen. But I began to freak out, sometime in the latter part of 2004, getting worse over time. After a great hassle, I was finally diagnosed with Late-Onset Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I gave up my guns voluntarily, although many of the men I sent to jail will be getting out soon.
First I was a hero. Then I became a burden. Now the Post calls me “nuts.” I am certain that they would like my life turned upside down, again, with an investigation – after a 7 year wait for benefits I earned.
What I have written is true. You decide.