if I was once admitted to a psychiatric hospital, what is now the legality of firing a weapon for recreational purposes?.
Question Details:
I was hospitalized involuntarily 6 years ago for exhaustion. I spent 3 days in hospital and was released. The hospital was a psychiatric hospital. I have been stable and not required any additional hospital visits or exhibited any symptoms related to stress and depression. My question is, would I be able to go to public gun range and fire a firearm with a person that legally owns the weapon? Also would I be allowed to hunt game with friends? Or is this not allowed under the law?
Under Delaware Code, Title 11, section 1448(a)(2), your hospitalization makes it illegal for you to own or possess a firearm or other deadly weapon. The same section does provide that you can be excepted from this, if you have a "certificate" from a Delaware-licensed psychiatrist or physician that you no longer suffer from a disorder that would create a potential problem with firearms.
This isn't unusual, in American firearms statutes. I don't know of anyone who has ever been able to get a doctor to stick his head out far enough to sign a certificate like that.
