FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2007
CONTACT: Jesse Benton
202-246-6363
Coalition Opposes “Mentally Defective” Labeling Legislation
Gun rights, physician and pro-liberty groups say bill would violate American’s civil rights
WASHINGTON, DC - The Liberty Coalition, a transpartisan public policy group dedicated to preserving the Bill of Rights, personal autonomy and individual privacy, has signed an open letter opposing H.R. 297, a bill to greatly expand federal lists of “mentally defective” people. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, would retroactively label thousands of Americans who voluntarily sought mental health screening as “mentally defective.” The letter says that the labeling would in affect be a modern day “scarlet letter” used to deny designees civil and constitutional rights without due process.
“The idea that the federal government can comb through the medical records of Americans and label them “mentally defective” is truly chilling,” said Liberty Coalition second amendment policy expert Mike Stollenwerk. “Such labeling is a gross violation of privacy rights and is ripe with potential for abuse.”
H.R. 297 has gained momentum since the tragic murder at Virginia tech last month. The bill would mandate that states violate their medical privacy laws and create a federal database of citizens’ mental health records. Federal bureaucrats would then have the unilateral authority to label Americans as “mentally defective” and put them on lists for increased scrutiny by law enforcement and deny them second amendment rights and other civil liberties.
The collation letter argues that:
“Action to retroactively label people mentally defective without notice and a hearing is a violation of basic fundamental fairness and due process. Further, now declaring persons who in the past voluntarily submitted to mental health evaluation and/or treatment as mentally defective would deter people from seeking mental health assistance in the future. Finally, millions of Americans and veterans who might have undergone post-combat zone counseling or other treatment could find themselves unknowingly in violation of federal gun laws, or, lose their security clearance or employment.”
“America must resist this rush to rash action in the wake of tragedy,” continued Stollenwerk. “H.R. 297 would do nothing to help keep us safe while grossly violating the civil rights of thousands of Americans and damaging our mental health system.”
-30-
Information in this document should not be taken as an endorsement by any partner organization unless explicitly stated as such.
To arrange an interview with Mr. Stollenwerk, please contact Jesse Benton at 202-246-6363. For more information on The Liberty Coalition, please visit www.libertycoalition.net.
Download the letter in Word format: http://www.libertycoalition.net/sites/libertycoalition.net/files/DraftLetteragainstHR297 15 May 2007.doc
May 21, 2007
CONTACT: Jesse Benton
202-246-6363
Coalition Opposes “Mentally Defective” Labeling Legislation
Gun rights, physician and pro-liberty groups say bill would violate American’s civil rights
WASHINGTON, DC - The Liberty Coalition, a transpartisan public policy group dedicated to preserving the Bill of Rights, personal autonomy and individual privacy, has signed an open letter opposing H.R. 297, a bill to greatly expand federal lists of “mentally defective” people. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, would retroactively label thousands of Americans who voluntarily sought mental health screening as “mentally defective.” The letter says that the labeling would in affect be a modern day “scarlet letter” used to deny designees civil and constitutional rights without due process.
“The idea that the federal government can comb through the medical records of Americans and label them “mentally defective” is truly chilling,” said Liberty Coalition second amendment policy expert Mike Stollenwerk. “Such labeling is a gross violation of privacy rights and is ripe with potential for abuse.”
H.R. 297 has gained momentum since the tragic murder at Virginia tech last month. The bill would mandate that states violate their medical privacy laws and create a federal database of citizens’ mental health records. Federal bureaucrats would then have the unilateral authority to label Americans as “mentally defective” and put them on lists for increased scrutiny by law enforcement and deny them second amendment rights and other civil liberties.
The collation letter argues that:
“Action to retroactively label people mentally defective without notice and a hearing is a violation of basic fundamental fairness and due process. Further, now declaring persons who in the past voluntarily submitted to mental health evaluation and/or treatment as mentally defective would deter people from seeking mental health assistance in the future. Finally, millions of Americans and veterans who might have undergone post-combat zone counseling or other treatment could find themselves unknowingly in violation of federal gun laws, or, lose their security clearance or employment.”
“America must resist this rush to rash action in the wake of tragedy,” continued Stollenwerk. “H.R. 297 would do nothing to help keep us safe while grossly violating the civil rights of thousands of Americans and damaging our mental health system.”
-30-
Information in this document should not be taken as an endorsement by any partner organization unless explicitly stated as such.
To arrange an interview with Mr. Stollenwerk, please contact Jesse Benton at 202-246-6363. For more information on The Liberty Coalition, please visit www.libertycoalition.net.
Download the letter in Word format: http://www.libertycoalition.net/sites/libertycoalition.net/files/DraftLetteragainstHR297 15 May 2007.doc
