What are you going to do this week to support expanded background checks?

[BainsBane]

156. There are 88 shootings every day

that result in fatalities. It needs access to those adjudicated dangerous to themselves or others, but there is not n overall link between mental illness and propensity toward violence. The mentally ill, however, are more likely to be victims of violent crime. I think it's a mistake to look at in just in terms of mass shooters, since those are a tiny fraction of the gun deaths every year. We need to do what is feasible, and expanding background checks to private sales, including gun shows and internet sales, is an important stat. It will make it harder for felons and those adjudicated dangerous to have access to weapons. Obama just signed some executive orders to facilitate access between court adjudications and the NCIS system. Making all mental health records accessible in such a system is, IMO, not reasonable and would likely be counterproductive since it would keep people from seeking help. Those with untreated mental illness are more likely to be dangerous than those seeking treatment.

Studies show there is 6% incidence of people with mental illness committing violent crimes. Compare that to 35% for those under the influence of drugs or alcohol.