It’s not what it seems
Editor:
I read the letter to the editor by Clara Cates, which appeared on Feb. 20, which makes mention of the mental health statute in reference to addressing citizens who appear to be mentally unstable.
The officer has the authority to immediately take that person in for immediate, emergency mental health evaluation.
She likens that to the Red Flag Law, which says something quite different, although Ms. Cates thinks it’s the same.
However, the difference being that the officer, based on sufficient prior information that there may be a likelihood that the person presents a danger to themselves or others. The officer can petition the courts to remove that person’s firearms, and let the process work itself through.
The big difference is that one is immediate and the officer sees the person who is mentally unstable, and the other is not immediate. It requires attention but through a process.
She thinks Red Flag is solely intended to take your gun, and it’s not true.
Essentially, the mental health statute calls for immediate action, and does not involve guns at all. The Red Flag Law is preventative.
Louis Lusero
Las Maravillas
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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April 19, 2024
