Some veterans groups have criticized a recent bill passed by the Georgia legislature, which would allow servicemembers and veterans to request a PTSD designation on their driver's license. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is an anxiety disorder that can occur after someone has experienced a traumatic event, such as military combat. PTSD can lead to vivid flashbacks, depression, or substance abuse. State Senator Ron Ramsey co-sponsored the bill and said he sees no downside to it because it is completely voluntary.
The aim of the bill is to increase the safety of veterans and police officers during encounters between them, such as during routine traffic stops where either one might misinterpret a sudden move. The bill requires a doctor's sworn statement confirming that a veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD, and it also requires that the veteran sign a waiver to say they voluntarily are making public their private medical information.
Even though it is voluntary, some veterans organizations say the law is a bad idea. The spokesperson for AMVETS, a national organization representing 200,000 veterans, has said he believes the legislation puts veterans at risk of discrimination throughout the day because driver's licenses are used for many purposes besides encounters with police officers. He points out that anyone with even a simple speeding ticket is able to argue their case before a judge and that in that forum they can share any medical conditions.
A spokesperson for the Vietnam Veterans Alliance, Inc., believes the legislation is misguided and also believes it may lead to discrimination. These groups point to prevailing attitudes about mental health and don't believe it is in veterans' best interest to broadcast that information. Georgia's Department of Veterans Service says that they have no objection to the legislation as long as it is voluntary.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported that 20 percent of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD.
Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue hasn't decided whether to sign the bill, but will make a decision by June 8.
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