A woman who fled a hospital after crisis workers suggested she be admitted for psychiatric treatment should not have been involuntarily committed and should therefore be allowed to have her mental health record expunged in order to obtain a firearm, the state Superior Court has ruled.
A unanimous three-judge panel Tuesday reversed the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas, ruling that Nancy White Vencil’s involuntary commitment did not meet the factual threshold because there was no evidence she shared active suicidal thoughts and the record did not demonstrate she was a clear and present danger to herself upon commitment. The trial court record showed only passive suicidal thoughts, and, therefore, the Superior Court held, Vencil should be allowed to have the record of her commitment that was submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police expunged in accordance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act, which restricts the possession of firearms by anyone with a record of involuntary commitment.
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