What is the punishment in the u.s. for trying to get a gun if you've been committed before?

[John Smith]

I've been in the psych ward many times but I can't remember if I was ever considered "a danger to myself or others" or involuntarily committed and therefore prohibited from owning a gun.

 

[TiredHorse]

I can't answer definitively, but my sense is just that your background check would be denied when you attempted to make the purchase, and the purchase simply wouldn't go through.

I've been at the counter in a gun store when a customer failed a background check. The gun store owner said, "sorry, man." The customer got pissed --"there's been a mistake!/what is the country coming to?/this is bullshit!"-- and eventually stomped out of the store. Not a big deal, really. That was probably 15 years ago, but it still stands that gun store workers aren't cops; they aren't going to arrest you. They probably aren't even going to call the cops unless you're stupid and get threatening. The system is glitchy, and the gun store owners probably sympathize more with you than with the Feds anyway.

EDIT: I am in WA, USA, where until recently we have had ridiculously relaxed gun laws. I used to joke that my concealed pistol license (CPL) came in a box of Crackerjacks --and once I had my CPL, I no longer had any waiting period or background check, the theory being that if I was safe to carry a concealed pistol, I was safe to buy a pistol. I think that privilege of the CPL has been downgraded, but I haven't bought a gun in a while so I don't know for sure. The point being --and as Retched's post makes clear-- the laws and purchase-permit requirements vary from state to state.

 

[Retched]

Here we have to register for a permit with the state patrol..................................eep.

 

[TAW122]

I believe on question 11.f on the ATF 4473, if you weren't involuntarily committed or adjudicated mentally defective (e.g. judge ordered/court ordered), then you should be able to answer NO without repercussions. Also, if you voluntarily went to the psych ward, then you should be able to pass. As far as finding out if the psych ward visit is in the NICS database, well I'm not sure how you'd check so I can't definitely answer there. Finally, IANAL (I am not a lawyer) so do take my answer with a grain of salt.

 

[Jenna]

I had to sign something saying I was ineligible for 5 years and that was 3 years ago. Pretty sure I can't.