Firearms Seized Then Returned: Expert Calls for Training on Gun Bans in Mental Health Crises
About a year before Oscar Arfmann fatally shot Abbotsford Police Constable John Davidson in November 2017, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta seized his firearm. Despite documented concerns about Arfmann's mental health and erratic behavior, the weapon was later returned to a friend and ultimately used in the murder of Constable Davidson. This case underscores a critical gap in law enforcement protocols regarding firearms and mental health crises.
Systemic Failures in Firearm Management
Frank Grosspietsch, a firearms expert with 15 years of experience on the RCMP's national weapons enforcement support team, authored a report detailing the necessary actions to prevent such tragedies. In an interview, Grosspietsch emphasized that the recent mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, where Jesse Van Rootselaar killed six people at a secondary school and two family members at home, raises similar concerns about firearm access during mental health emergencies.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald confirmed that police had visited Van Rootselaar's home multiple times for mental health calls, including an apprehension under the Mental Health Act. Firearms were seized from the home, but the licensed owner successfully petitioned for their return. However, the RCMP later stated that the guns used in the Tumbler Ridge shootings were not among those previously seized, with one shotgun believed to be involved in the homicides never having been confiscated by police.
Urgent Need for Enhanced Training and Protocols
Grosspietsch argues that law enforcement agencies must improve their handling of mental health crises involving firearms. "Law enforcement agencies need to be properly trained in the identification and recognition of investigations that involve individuals dealing with mental health crises that could result in harm to others and/or themselves," he stated. "And in that educational training, law enforcement agencies must use the applicable laws that are in place."
He pointed out that while police often take the initial step of seizing firearms, they frequently fail to follow through with applications for permanent prohibitions, leading to weapons being returned. "The prohibition applications are not consistently being used, and that is the shortcoming," Grosspietsch explained. He added that firearms should not be returned to a licensed owner if another person in the household poses a mental health risk involving self-harm or harm to others.
Broader Implications for Public Safety
The cases of Arfmann and Van Rootselaar highlight a broader issue of access to firearms during mental health crises. Grosspietsch's recommendations focus on:
- Implementing comprehensive training for police on recognizing and addressing mental health-related firearm risks.
- Ensuring consistent application of existing laws for permanent firearm prohibitions.
- Developing protocols to prevent the return of seized firearms in households with individuals experiencing mental health crises.
These measures aim to prevent future tragedies by addressing the systemic failures that allowed seized firearms to be returned, ultimately endangering public safety. The need for reform is urgent, as evidenced by the devastating outcomes in Abbotsford and Tumbler Ridge.
