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FBI's Mental Health Gun-Ban List Doubles

Addition highlights scope of 'background check loophole'

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 29, 2007 5:38 PM CST
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(Newser) – Spurred by April shootings at Virginia Tech, new reporting of mental health data has doubled the number of Americans banned from purchasing guns on such grounds, Attorney General Michael Mukasey said today. Nearly 220,000 names have been added to the FBI list, highlighting the data-sharing gap that allowed shooter Seung Hui Cho to buy guns though a court deemed him mentally defective.

Of the 28 states providing data to the FBI, California was the biggest new contributor, with 200,000 names; Ohio added 7,000. Mukasey asked the remaining states to submit information, saying, "The checks must be accurate and complete to be effective." Gun sales are prohibited to those declared mentally ill by the courts; private mental health records are excluded from the database.

Virginia Tech shooting survivor Lily Habtu holds hands with Sarah Brady, wife of former White House Press Secretary James Brady, during a news conference to urge Congress to finish work on legislation to strengthen the Brady background check system on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. New...
Virginia Tech shooting survivor Lily Habtu holds hands with Sarah Brady, wife of former White House Press Secretary James Brady, during a news conference to urge Congress to finish work on legislation...   (Associated Press)
Karen and Pat Conners of Orlando, Fla., visit a temporary memorial to the Virginia Tech shooting victims Thursday Aug. 30, 2007, in Blacksburg, Va. (AP Photo/Don Petersen)
Karen and Pat Conners of Orlando, Fla., visit a temporary memorial to the Virginia Tech shooting victims Thursday Aug. 30, 2007, in Blacksburg, Va. (AP Photo/Don Petersen)   (Associated Press)
New Attorney General Michael Mukasey speaks during his ceremonial swearing-in ceremony, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, at Justice Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Attorney General Michael Mukasey speaks during his ceremonial swearing-in ceremony, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, at Justice Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)   (Associated Press)
  (Shutterstock)
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