Quote:
BLACKSBURG, Virginia (CNN) -- When a judge deemed Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hui Cho a danger to himself due to mental illness in 2005, that ruling should have disqualified him from buying a handgun under federal law.
It didn't.
Under federal law, anyone who has been judged to be a danger to himself or others because of mental illness, as Cho was, should be prohibited from buying a gun.
His status should have been noted in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a database of people disqualified from gun purchases.
But, in Cho's case, his mental status never went in the system.
That's because the federal government relied on Virginia to provide the information, and Virginia law disqualifies a person from buying firearms only if they have been involuntarily committed to a mental hospital.
Cho was ordered to undergo outpatient treatment, but he was never committed. His appearance before the judge and his evaluation at a mental health facility did not show up when he bought the guns.
It didn't.
Under federal law, anyone who has been judged to be a danger to himself or others because of mental illness, as Cho was, should be prohibited from buying a gun.
His status should have been noted in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a database of people disqualified from gun purchases.
But, in Cho's case, his mental status never went in the system.
That's because the federal government relied on Virginia to provide the information, and Virginia law disqualifies a person from buying firearms only if they have been involuntarily committed to a mental hospital.
Cho was ordered to undergo outpatient treatment, but he was never committed. His appearance before the judge and his evaluation at a mental health facility did not show up when he bought the guns.
5 Bucks says the Gun Lobby fights Virginia when it tries to close this loophole.
10 Bucks to whomever guesses how much Virginia ends up paying the victims families, including possibly Cho's, in the wrongful death suit.
(Without going over)