A lot of folks here blaming police, but it was the VA that tipped them off.
Now...was there a warrent issued?
It would be nice if more troubled folks sought God and faith, than the VA.
The VA medicates and dabbles in secular counseling.
I lost a dear friend last year, to PTSD and a self-inflicted gun shot.
She had the VA, but no faith.
VA calls the police: “We are concerned about Ms Rice, who lives at xxxxxx. Would you please check to see that everything is all right?
Police go to xxxxxx. They knock. No answer. The police think, “We have to make sure Ms Rice is not dead or dying inside”.
Police break down the door. They look around. They find the guns. “OMG guns! We cannot leave them here unsecured or where a possibly unstable Ms Rice would have access to them!” “We do not even know if they are all legal!” Bundle them up and impound them.
Now, they do not want to return them, because “If anything would happen, we might be liable”.
Just speculation, but the intersection of the Nanny State with absolute terror of litigation produces horrific results.