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New Fed Gun Law Inspired by Virginia Tech Massacre

Congress makes it harder for mentally ill to buy guns

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 20, 2007 3:15 AM CST

(Newser) – New gun control legislation designed to keep weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill was passed by the Senate yesterday. The rare event of congressional action on gun control—and even rarer bipartisan agreement—was triggered by the Virginia Tech massacre last April. The bill, which strengthens background checks, passed the House in June.

The legislation provides financial incentives for states to put mental health and criminal records into the federal  database used for background checks on gun buyers. "Nothing can bring back the lives tragically lost at Virginia Tech, but the bill we pass today may help prevent similar tragedies in the future," said one lawmaker.

Members of the Virginia Tech Marching Band embrace after a dedication ceremony for the memorial of the victims of April 16,2007 shooting on the drillfield at the school  in Blacksburg, Va., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Congress has passed legislation making it less likely someone will a history of mental...
Members of the Virginia Tech Marching Band embrace after a dedication ceremony for the memorial of the victims of April 16,2007 shooting on the drillfield at the school in Blacksburg, Va., Sunday, Aug....   (Associated Press)
Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and himself in the campus massacre last April.  Congress has passed legislation making it less likely someone will a history of mental illness can buy guns as Cho did.
Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and himself in the campus massacre last April. Congress has passed legislation making it less likely someone will a history of mental illness can buy...   (NBC)
An unidentified person is carried out of Norris Hall at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., in this April 16, 2007, file photo. Congress has passed legislation making it less likely someone will a history of mental illness can buy firearms as the gunman did. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (AP Photo/The Roanoke...
An unidentified person is carried out of Norris Hall at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., in this April 16, 2007, file photo. Congress has passed legislation making it less likely someone will a history...   (Associated Press)
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