Pro-gun psychiatrists in Winnipeg?

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YehudiRoman

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I've recently sent in my application for my non-restricted and restricted licenses, but will obviously hit a snag rather early. I have a diagnosis for Bipolar II, which comes with depression. Due to ongoing treatment I had to provide this information on the application. I sent in a good explanation with my reasons for getting the license (I'm going on a canoe trip from Winnipeg to Churchill next Spring and will be moving to a remote area shortly thereafter to build a homestead and become a hunting guide) but my research indicated that I'll need a doctor to send in an all clear before my application will be approved.

I went to my (now previous) doctor to request just that and he informed me that he is opposed to private ownership of firearms under any and all circumstances, including wilderness defense and hunting. He then dropped me as a patient that day and sent in a letter to the College of Physicians and Surgeons claiming that I'd threatened him and his staff in an effort to sabotage my application for firearms ownership. This is being dealt with via a complaint to the College of Physicians and needless to say is a total fabrication.

In the meantime, I just got a new doctor that will not sign the forms simply because he doesn't know me well enough and I don't have a psychiatrist (treatment is done through a therapist that is a registered social worker). My therapist supports my decision to get firearms and has been looking into the possibility of providing a letter of recommendation, but neither of us think that it would be accepted by the CFO and he currently doesn't know if he is even allowed to provide such a recommendation as a registered social worker.

If there is anyone here that would know some way of helping me out I would greatly appreciate it; a pro-gun psychiatrist that is taking patients would be ideal. It's rather obvious that I don't have suicidal ideations and the fact that I already own knives, a machete and a hunting crossbow and have owned them for years proves this; if I wanted to die, I'd be dead already.
 
I can't imagine any psychiatrist taking new patients would willingly sign off on new a new patient's PAL application without knowing for sure they're good to go. I think you'll have to settle in for the long haul and let your doc get to know you before you can proceed.

If you're too impatient, maybe you can try greasing him a little? Slip him a couple brown bills and see if you can get his approval before hunting season lol
 
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SilverBaller said:
I can't imagine any psychiatrist taking new patients would willingly sign off on new a new patient's PAL application without knowing for sure they're good to go. I think you'll have to settle in for the long haul and let your doc get to know you before you can proceed.

If you're too impatient, maybe you can try greasing him a little? Slip him a couple brown bills and see if you can get his approval before hunting season lol
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Psychiatrists can do assessments over a few weeks. I wouldn't expect one immediately, but definitely need this to go through before the canoe trip.

If it doesn't I'm not cancelling the trip; I'm not about to let societal intransigence and ignorance get in the way of living my life.

And if I manage to survive a bear attack, there are several people I will be sueing.
 
Tazzy said:
Maybe you can post the doctors name in case any other members may have the same doctor.
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Can't; this is a he-said/he-said scenario and I have no evidence (neither does he). If I put his name out on a public forum and he disputes it I could be facing a slander and libel lawsuit.
 
And you think they issue your license as soon as they get the assessment? Might as well plan the trip a few weeks later

Also, you don't apply for non-restricted and restricted at the same time, ony the restricted. Being a hunting guide without being around guns? Wow, that would be impressive.

Laugh2 sorry, too many inconsistencies
 
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madcow said:
And you think they issue your license as soon as they get the assessment? Might as well plan the trip a few weeks later

Also, you don't apply for non-restricted and restricted at the same time, ony the restricted. Being a hunting guide without being around guns? Wow, that would be impressive.

Laugh2 sorry, too many inconsistencies
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Um... What are you talking about?

I took both my non-restricted and restricted tests and sent in the application with both test scores. IIRC, the forms asked if I was applying for one or both.

I've been around guns for a while, just not mine. I never bothered with a firearms license because I haven't had an actual need for one until now and becoming a hunting guide is a future goal, not an immediate one.

I don't know what inconsistencies you're talking about; all I've stated is my plans and goals. It was my understanding when looking up the application process that I wouldn't need much to get the license beyond the tests and a letter from a doctor, something I didn't think would be difficult but turned out to be a much bigger hassle than expected. What my previous doctor did is affecting me in other ways beyond this.
 
Yeah but your problem is that you are posting extremely personal information and looking for feedback. Do you have a more personal connection you can consult rather than throwing it all out here i wonder.
 
VanIsleCam said:
Yeah but your problem is that you are posting extremely personal information and looking for feedback. Do you have a more personal connection you can consult rather than throwing it all out here i wonder.
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I doubt anything here can be directly connected to my actual name with ease. Either way, this course of action was recommended to me by another Gun Nuts member who also had a problem with his doctor. I've linked him the thread so he can post if he wants to, but I'm not going to name him.
 
At this point this is mostly irrelevant. A few days after I posted this, my new doctor sent in a referral for a new psychiatrist, ones recommended by my therapist. I don't know how long that'll take, and a swifter course of action would of course be welcome, but in the end this will get sorted. I'm just hoping for sooner rather than later. I'll postpone my canoe trip a few weeks if I have to, I just won't cancel it if I'm denied my license.
 
YehudiRoman said:
I've recently sent in my application for my non-restricted and restricted licenses
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Licenses, that means 2, you only apply for 1. Restricted.

I know what I read, maybe you should look at what you wrote.

Trying to get a license by circumventing the rules, by getting a doctor to fast track you without proper observation is not only threating the doctors license but also public safety. For a respectible doctor it would be unethical.
 
madcow said:
Licenses, that means 2, you only apply for 1. Restricted.

I know what I read, maybe you should look at what you wrote.

Trying to get a license by circumventing the rules, by getting a doctor to fast track you without proper observation is not only threating the doctors license but also public safety. For a respectible doctor it would be unethical.
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Great; you're calling me out on a minor technicality that I wasn't clear on. Whoop-di-friggin-do. I sent in my application for my Restricted license.

And I'm not looking to circumvent the rules. I have a therapist that supports me 100% and sees no reason why I should be denied access to firearms. I'm simply looking for ways to speed up the process, just as everyone here attempts to do. When I made the initial post, I didn't know whether I'd be getting a new psychiatrist or not and I still don't know how long it's going to take to see a new one.

You're certainly living up to your name.
 
Ive actually had to deal with this before when I renewed my licence with a PTSD and MDD diagnosis. The system is so convoluted that your therapist (that you deal with 95% of the time) can be 100% behind you for licence renewal however a psychiatrist or GP, that only sees you once every month-6 months with a prejudice against firearms can easily destroy your life and hobby (the endearing sentence my old GP wrote on the form after telling me she supported my hobbies was "I CAN NOT RECOMMEND HIM TO HAVE FIREARMS AS HE HAS PTSD").

It took me about 7 months to get it all sorted out with a second opinion from a responsible GP.

When they look at it they will look at if you have had any prior criminal history/charges or a history of violent behavior. Beyond that its a check in the box from a psychiatrist or GP who actually takes time to read into your history. The regional CFO personally told me my situation was rediculous as I had absolutely no history of violence. He even said "it seems they are punishing you for seeking help".

Good to see the mental health stigma is alive and well though.:rolleyes:
 
And this is exactly what it sounds like, the OP has been seeing a therapist for x number of months/years and this therapist supports his licence. However this psychiatrist who barely sees him refuses to sign off on it due to personal reasons. I fail to see how this is trying to circumvent the system when it appears the OP has done everything possible to go along with treatment from his therapist. If anyone is failing here it is the psychiatrist who has decided his personal opinion regarding gun ownership trumps the actual evidence in written reports from his therapist.
 
Ok well I think your in for the long haul and could be required for continued visits to Health professionals to keep any permits you may acquire from what I've learned.
1 I had a massive blood clot in my right thigh, messed my leg up 8 years ago, but of course recovered.
I had been hunting and done the whole firearms thing since as young as I could physically and loved all the firearms community offers!
My experience was like others great and bad at times. yes I had medical professionals agree that I should not give up what I love to do and should go one with life. I had a really great doctor who even signed me off on the exemption of the criminal code to be able to have a loaded firearm in or on and discharge firearms from any vehicle boat or off road vehicle as long as the vehicle was not in pursuing game and or targets. You get it from the MNRF in ont. So yes that doctor was great, she and others helped me during my recovery continue with what I wanted to do. But yes her husband was a Canadian forces doctor that had done several tours and helped vets abroad and at home medically. Plus my doctor and her husband hunted moose all the time. So she was well aware of the firearms community.
Then I had another doctor who asked what my hobbies were and she laughed for some time at me saying, I would look stupid in the bush with a limb injury with a gun while probably walking in circles! and I should not participate and yes she tried to stop me , but she couldn't. She had no opinion against firearms or hunting or even self protection she told me. (She was neutral) It was her thought that once your sick wether it's physical or mental, you need to be locked up in a home with your own kind and play cards, while others make your decisions! So I can understand yours or others struggles. There is stigmas, but not just on mental health but also physical health. These stigmas and opinions vary greatly I've learned! Not just on firearms or hunting but all kinds of activities once you become ill or injured!
2 I have a friend who I've been friends with for over 15 years. He got his hunting and gun license after he came with me to see hunting.
But, Few years ago he and his wife were having problems. He went to speek to a counsellor and then was referred to a sphyciatrist and was diagnosed with bipolar 1 or 2 and or a possible mood disorder. But from what I understand apparently both mental health issues were very minor conditions he had. But he did have his permits prior to those diagnosis. He has no violent past . He also drives a school bus and has his A-Z aka CDL and in order to keep his drivers license and job he must report to his doctor monthly and the ministry board of transport every 3 months(the ministry told him they always will be on the side of caution, so as long as he has this permit he will always be interviewed)
plus to keep his pal he needs to keep up 3 month visits to the sphyciatrist and go doctor monthly and he had an extra meeting with the RCMP .
Plus they have a foster child that they are in process of adopting. Plus he must have monthly inspections at his home and have guns disabled and all in a safe locked and then have the safe hidden and or covered to Provinces wishes. Plus many other requirements. He did say he used the reports to show the RCMP all the extra precautions he does and is required to from the children's aid . Even though the children's aid adoption is separate issue to his bipolar mood issue. But apparently it helped.
My point is yes there is medical professional that will try to do thing due to politics and not what's your best interest. my mother works at a mental health hospital and some people use there ideologies to stop others from their passion or hobby even though they are no threat.
But what I suggest from what my friend has gone through and my mother has spoke of,(I can't speak on the mental health front.) But I would be prepared for the long haul and I think you may be required for some regular visits to health professional to get and keep your pal.
I wish you the best of luck and don't give up!
 
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