Kotowski measure infringes on rights

I disagree with Sen. Kotowski's letter on Feb. 24. The law, SB940 is an infringement upon a citizens constitutional right to privacy, due to an over reaction to the Virginia Tech shooting.

Too much policy is poorly thought out by political zealots who use the law to infringe upon our rights.

The law seeks to expand notification to the state police the private mental health information of any person in outpatient mental health facilities by mental health providers.

It does not explicitly cover private outpatient settings, where the majority of people receive care. It also does not cover any other professional, such as a caseworker or other social type worker, who may come into contact with a dangerous person in a non-mental health setting.

If we report every depressed, angry or irritable person, and those taking anti-depressants, we will be living in a police state.

Sen. Kotowski states this only covers "people who pose an imminent danger." But the people in the mental health field cannot define what this means and as a pretext to prevent lawsuits will expand this statement to over report innocent people.

What the law also fails to do is change the FOID application and gun purchase application by expanding the number of years covered beyond five. This change in the law has the potential to make a difference for any NIU type shooter.

I call upon Sen. Kotowski to fix this legislation. Be more specific. Not this nor any piece of legislation pending would have stopped the NIU shooter.

Matthew Skarbek

Naperville