Gun control and the mentally ill
Star-Telegram
Mentally ill people aren't supposed to be able to buy guns from federally licensed dealers. The FBI's instant background check system is supposed to prevent it. But most states, including Texas, don't supply the names of people who have been forced to get mental health treatment. Now the U.S. House has approved a bill that would require states to participate; it awaits Senate consideration. The Justice Department is also urging state attorneys general to participate, stateline.org has reported. Texas officials have cited privacy issues for not providing information. The other side of the argument: The system might have kept a gun out of Virginia Tech shooter Seung Hui Cho's hands if Virginia had reported his name.
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Aren't random acts of violence, well, random?
I'm not advocating that we do nothing, however, if someone wants to buy a gun, they are going to buy a gun. If they don't get them in a store, then all they have to do is open up the newspaper and flip back to the classifieds.
Star-Telegram
Mentally ill people aren't supposed to be able to buy guns from federally licensed dealers. The FBI's instant background check system is supposed to prevent it. But most states, including Texas, don't supply the names of people who have been forced to get mental health treatment. Now the U.S. House has approved a bill that would require states to participate; it awaits Senate consideration. The Justice Department is also urging state attorneys general to participate, stateline.org has reported. Texas officials have cited privacy issues for not providing information. The other side of the argument: The system might have kept a gun out of Virginia Tech shooter Seung Hui Cho's hands if Virginia had reported his name.
________________________
Aren't random acts of violence, well, random?
I'm not advocating that we do nothing, however, if someone wants to buy a gun, they are going to buy a gun. If they don't get them in a store, then all they have to do is open up the newspaper and flip back to the classifieds.