The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday closing a loophole in federal gun-control laws exposed by the April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech.
The legislation, which is the first significant gun-control bill to pass the House in 13 years, would strengthen states’ responsibility to report mentally ill individuals’ names to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. People judged to be mentally ill and a danger to themselves or others are prohibited from owning weapons, but agencies in most states do not require that the names of those individuals be submitted to the federal database. The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Seung-Hui Cho should have been stopped from purchasing the two handguns he used to kill 32 students and faculty before committing suicide because he was ordered to undergo outpatient mental treatment in 2005, but Virginia did not send that information to the federal background system. Within days of the shootings, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine issued an executive order directing state agencies to transit mental health information to the background-check system.
“Today’s House vote is a clear example that policymakers at every level of government are working in a bipartisan and responsible way to promote public safety,” Kaine said.
Also on Wednesday, the White House released a report on the incident that said fear of violating privacy laws is stopping schools, doctors and police from sharing information about students who may need mental health treatment. The fear prevents troubled students from receiving counseling and may allow them to illegally purchase handguns.
