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Pocono News Section
President Bush signs gun background check law
President Bush signs gun background check law - Monday, January 14, 2008 at 6:00PM EST
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 @06:00pm EST
President Bush signs a bill into law, changing the face of gun background checks.
Many states including Pennsylvania don't share mental health records, with the national background system.
It could have prevented the Virginia Tech shooter from buying a gun and killing 32 people.
The national instant check system improvement act will fix a huge record sharing gap.
Pennsylvania state police will soon have to make big changes to their gun background check system.
"As far as changes go, we're just going to fully comply with the law. However, i think this new law is going to have to work it's way through various entities in our system."
Right now, the state police system doesn't share mental health records with the national "NICS" system.
Being judged mentally defective disqualifies you from buying a gun.
But if someone is judged mentally defective in this state, they can simply cross state lines and buy a gun there.
The NICS improvement act will provide thousands of dollars to close the gap.
"Nothing's going to happen immediately, but once all those things are worked out we will be in full compliance."
The bulk of the work will be upgrading background check computer systems.
Some mental health records are on paper, and those will have to be added into computer databases.
Also, court record systems need to be upgraded, if someone judged mentally defective illegally buys a gun.
It's a lot of work, and a lot of money, but it passed through congress, and President Bush's desk.
Supporters hope it will stop a tragedy like Virginia Tech before it starts. | | |
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