Trump restores gun rights for the mentally ill (seriously) - Rachel Maddow - MS NOW

[Rhiannon12866]

For reasons that are hard to fathom, included among Biden era gun rules that Donald Trump has rolled back are restrictions on people who have been adjudicated mentally ill, making it easier for them to get access to guns and ammunition.

Mirianna Mitchem, former associate assistant director at the ATF, talks with Rachel Maddow about the danger Trump is courting with his recklessness. - Aired on 07/06/2026.

[rampartd]

1. this may be the dumbest government policy

not actually led by rfk or dr oz.

but those guys are legends.

[Wonder Why]

2. That's the only way he can own one.

[Grim Chieftain]

3. Maybe one of those mentally ill people who has their gun rights restored

is not a Trump fan. Karma and all that...

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I've thought of that. But how many others would have to pay with their lives?

I keep thinking of my cousin's young daughter who is still traumatized by the shooter drills in school.

[Grim Chieftain]

5. Agree. I was just being snarky.

As a professor, I taught my students about active shooter drills and how to protect themselves and their students from attacks. I grew up at a time when schools and churches were considered safe havens, immune from violence. That is sadly no longer the case. There are no safe havens, and no place is off limits.

Still, it seems strange that Trump, who has escaped numerous "assassination attempts" would determine that those who are mentally ill should have the right to bear arms.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I completely agree, the last thing we want is for the mentally ill to have access to guns

And wouldn't anyone have to be seriously mentally ill to shoot an entire classroom full of first graders, a grocery store full of shoppers, a Bible study class of senior citizens or their classmates in school?? All those abominations have happened and it's up to the laws we make to do everything we can to prevent those horror shows from ever happening again.

And I was a member of two rifle teams in my youth, one at my summer camp where I learned to shoot and the second as the only girl on the rifle team at my high school. And I never remember any threats, the guns were safely locked away when not in use to practice or at a match. But obviously times have changed and we need to change with those times. I'd be fine if guns were only available to law enforcement and I'd certainly hope that they were evaluated regularly.

As for the felon-in-chief, he's regularly been shown to not be playing with a full deck. But we know that he calls the shots (literally) among the group of unqualified sycophants who he likes to surround himself with.

[Karasu]

7. I have no idea why the fuck anyone would want this. The GQP are nuts and I'd love to hear their insane defense for it.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Assembling his army before the midterms.

Man has been the target of assassination attempts three times from men who allegedly were mentally ill and he decides to take this course. His mother is right. Not the most intelligent in the family.