Obtaining A Psychological Certificate For A Gun Permit Is Easy, Investigative News Team Learns
Obtaining a medical certificate that is required to carry a gun in Costa Rica has the medical and psychology profession worried, according to a Telenoticias report that shows how easy is to obtain the certificate and without even having to undergo an evaluation.

The television station investigative news team reports that it visited several psychologists offices and found a series of irregularities in the process of obtaining a medical certificate that is then used to obtain a gun permit.

The regulations established by the Colegio de Psicólogos - psychologists board - are clear, a person looking to obtain a gun permit must submit themselves to an psychological evaluation for an average of six hours. However, the Telenoticias team was able to obtain the certificate in less than half hour and without even complying with the minimum requirements demanded by the professional board.

The requirements are that a person undergoes a deep evaluation of their mental state and a psychological test to determine their mental condition. However, one doctor that Telenoticias visited even asked them for their cedula, the important piece of identification in Costa Rica, and in 30 minutes the doctor gave up the certificate.

The same occurred at a second professional the news team visited.

The board of psychologists says that the exam should take at least one hour and that the psychological evaluation at least three hours. In addition, it should take the professional more than an hour to evaluate the results of the test and at least two more hours preparing the evaluation report.