TexasCHLforum.com

My wife has been going back and forth about whether or not to get her CHL. One of her major concerns (and mine too) is that a few years ago while at graduate school she was all stressed out (imagine that!) and went to see the school psychiatrist. Well, in five minutes this drug-pusher quack [mis]diagnoses her as being bipolar and suicidal and puts her on the anti-psychotic drug lithium! She walked out and threw the [stuff] away.

Well, we think she will need a letter from a shrink saying she's normal. Does anyone have a reccomendation in the Houston area?

Thanks in advance.

she wasn't committed against her will? I think she's okay.

This is why we think she needs that letter:

GC 9411.172. ELIGIBILITY. (a) A person is eligible for a license to
carry a concealed handgun if the person:
....

(7) is not incapable of exercising sound judgment with respect to
the proper use and storage of a handgun;
....

(d) For purposes of Subsection (a)(7), a person is incapable of
exercising sound judgment with respect to the proper use and storage
of a handgun if the person:
(1) has been diagnosed by a licensed physician as suffering from
a psychiatric disorder or condition that causes or is likely to cause
substantial impairment in judgment, mood, perception, impulse
control, or intellectual ability;
(2) suffers from a psychiatric disorder or condition described by
Subdivision (1 ) that:
(A) is in remission but is reasonably likely to redevelop at a
future time; or
(B) requires continuous medical treatment to avoid redevelopment;
(3) has been diagnosed by a licensed physician or declared by a
court to be incompetent to manage the person's own affairs; or
(4) has entered in a criminal proceeding a plea of not guilty by
reason of insanity.
....

(e) The following constitutes evidence that a person has a psychiatric
disorder or condition described by Subsection (d)(l):
(1) involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in the preceding
five-year period;
(2) psychiatric hospitalization in the preceding two-year period;
(3) inpatient or residential substance abuse treatment in the
preceding five-year period;
(4) diagnosis in the preceding five-year period by a licensed
physician that the person is dependent on alcohol, a controlled
substance, or a similar substance; or
(5) diagnosis at any time by a licensed physician that the person
suffers or has suffered from a psychiatric disorder or condition
consisting of or relating to:(A) schizophrenia or delusional disorder;
(B) bipolar disorder;(C) chronic dementia, whether caused by illness, brain defect,
or brain injury;
(D) dissociative identity disorder;
(E) intermittent explosive disorder; or
(F) antisocial personality disorder.
(9 Notwithstanding Subsection (d), a person who has previously
been diagnosed as suffering from a psychiatric disorder or condition
described by Subsection (d) or listed in Subsection (e) is not because
of that disorder or condition incapable of exercising sound judgment
with respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun if the person
provides the department with a certificate from a licensed physician
whose primary practice is in the field of psychiatry stating that the
psychiatric disorder or condition is in remission and is not reasonably
likely to develop at a future time.
(Emphasis mine)

I really hope that is not the case, otherwise my application is going to take for eeeeevvvvvvvveeeerrrrrrrrrr if ever at all!!!! As if it isn't anyways. "Thanks Ike!" for the slowing it down even more. You know, I'm sure one of my personalities should be sane enough to carry. Whats the problem?

Prior to taking the CHL class I looked through everything I could find and didn't see any info similar to what was posted. Oh well I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. If this really hasn't been an issue then I'm sure others can share their stories since it seems that half the country is on anti-depressants anyways. I personally don't know of anyone that has their CHL and are on psych meds, but then again I don't know many that have their CHL.

Interested to see what reply's come from this topic.

Jessie

bdickens wrote: (D) dissociative identity disorder;

This describes half of the people who post to internet forums.

bdickens wrote: (F) antisocial personality disorder.

And this describes 1/3 of the people who post to gun boards.

Unless you have reason to believe that she's going to use the gun on you, herself or her mother, I wouldn't worry about those clauses because absolutely no one else does.

I would not worry about it. Can she qualify to purchase a gun? The 4473 form and subsequent check should reveal if she is on the "mentally unstable" list.

KaiserB wrote:I would not worry about it. Can she qualify to purchase a gun? The 4473 form and subsequent check should reveal if she is on the "mentally unstable" list.

Unfortunately, many people can pass the NICS check to purchase a firearm and still not qualify for a Texas CHL. Remember that sworn affidavit you signed and sent to DPS? The one titled "Release of Records"? That was so they could check your medical records for any indication of mental health treatment. And, yes, they will deny you if you have EVER been diagnosed with certain mental conditions.

The Utah CFP is one alternative for people in this situation. Utah will only deny you if you have been adjudicated by a state or federal court as mentally incompetent.

Okay hypothetically speaking, if someone needed a letter from a shrink, what would that letter need to say? Hmmmm

Jane Doe is of sound mind... Hmmm no that doesn't sound right...

Jane Doe used to be a looney toons but is now okay... no that doesn't sound right either

You guys are creative what do ya'll think?

So, say for instance, someone was diagnosed as depressed and was given anti-depressants. The meds take care of the any depression issues, so does that still make it an immediate rejection?

Just curious to get your thoughts on the matter.

Jessie

Some interesting input, but it misses the point. I'm looking for a reccomendation for a Second-Amendment friendly psychiatrist, knowing that many of those guys tend to be left-leaning.

Crossfire wrote: Remember that sworn affidavit you signed and sent to DPS? The one titled "Release of Records"? That was so they could check your medical records for any indication of mental health treatment. And, yes, they will deny you if you have EVER been diagnosed with certain mental conditions.

I've always wondered, how exactly to they get your medical records. I never told them what doctors I went to. I'm sure they don't just "call around". Is there some centralized database of any doctor you ever went to or something?

atxgun wrote:

Crossfire wrote: Remember that sworn affidavit you signed and sent to DPS? The one titled "Release of Records"? That was so they could check your medical records for any indication of mental health treatment. And, yes, they will deny you if you have EVER been diagnosed with certain mental conditions.

I've always wondered, how exactly to they get your medical records. I never told them what doctors I went to. I'm sure they don't just "call around". Is there some centralized database of any doctor you ever went to or something?

It's a good bet that they call major pharmacies and check for certain meds. The prescriptions to those meds have a doctor's name attached.

I'm willing to bet they don't check at all specifically.

If it is not on file as an Arrest/Court disposition, I bet it is not discovered.

agbullet2k1 wrote: I've always wondered, how exactly to they get your medical records. I never told them what doctors I went to. I'm sure they don't just "call around". Is there some centralized database of any doctor you ever went to or something?

It's a good bet that they call major pharmacies and check for certain meds. The prescriptions to those meds have a doctor's name attached.

Yeah, good question. I'm not going to worry about it but, e.g. I take an anxiety med but I have never had anxiety, it's from a neurologist as one of two meds to treat my RLS, since it has strong sleep aid properties. So, technically it was perscribed "off label." But if your guess is true then they might think I have some undiagnosed illness. Whatever...

bdickens wrote:Some interesting input, but it misses the point. I'm looking for a reccomendation for a Second-Amendment friendly psychiatrist, knowing that many of those guys tend to be left-leaning.

I would check with your insurance to see who they cover you to go see. Then go talk to them, but not tell them why you want the paper, as you have said that most tend to be leaning to the left.