Should american law permit you to have a gun if -

You have a mental illness?
You murdered someone, but have served your prison term?
You have been convicted of beating someone up?
You have not been trained how to use a gun?
You were kicked out of the armed forces?
You have a Similar Worlds account
You have an aggressive nature?
You are or have been an alcoholic?
You go by the name Jimmy the Gun?

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Graylight · 51-55, F

It depends. A mental illness can by anxiety or phobia and it can be bipolar or antisocial personality. There are varying degrees. Incidentally, those with mental illness have been shown in study after study not to be any more violent than the general public. Gun statistics back that up. And how are you going to identify the dangerously mentally ill? Right now, all we have is a questionnaire filled out by the gun buyer.

Beating someone up doesn't predict gun violence.

No one not trained and regularly tested in the use of firearms should own a gun. Why not give race cars to anyone who thinks they're cool?

Discharge from the military is not predictor of gun violence.

I'm beginning to wonder if many of the people here on SW should own a firearm.

Aggressiveness can be a helpful trait and is no predictor of gun violence.

Recovering alcoholics and drug users are among some of the most even, insightful and straight people I've ever met. And there's no connection between addiction and love of guns.

What would Jimmy the Gun do without his trademark accessory? Just stay clear of him after payday.

Bigrobbie · 56-60, M

@Graylight Beating someone up shows aggression. If you can land a punch, you might shoot a gun.

Anxiety is probably a reason not to be allowed a gun. You need a sound mind in my opinion. Antisocial personality is not a mental illness in my view.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Bigrobbie Fair points. But you can't punish for crimes not yet committed. Those who use their fists haven't, I don't think, been shown to be any more likely to use a gun. Aggression and murder are two different things.

Anxiety is usually debilitating, not provocative. Meaning someone with anxiety is a lot more likely to hide at home than take a gun out to the mall. There's a wide, wide spectrum of mental illness. If we're going to address that issue as a society, I think we need more specific parameters.