Shooting Rampage at Northern Illinois U.

Everything I read about the VT shooting and I live in the area so there was a ton of stuff to read. Is that by Va. standards what he was committed for should have made it illegal in Va. for him to buy a fire arm and should have been report as such. He did not fall through some crack in the system it was a failure on someones part to report this to the proper people.
The key word is "committed" and he wasn't formally committed by the hospital. I'll have to disagree with you that the proper procedures weren't followed. I talked with the NICS rep who was involved in investigating that case. They looked to see if both the federal and state laws were complied with regarding his prior commitment and their findings were that he did not qualify as a prohibited person under the statutes because he was held for observation only. I saw more articles after that incident that reported poorly researched information than I can count. Don't believe everything you read.

There's a bigger picture here that people need to look at. There are countless people out there who suffer from serious mental conditions that should prohibit them from obtaining firearms. However, these people don't exhibit outward behaviors that warrant them being committed. So they don't fall into the prohibited category. Most people do seek treatment on their own, but we have no way of knowing that unless they choose to disclose it. Furthermore, by law, I'm not allowed to ask people if they have been treated for a mental condition. I can only ask if they've been committed. That part of the law is pretty eff'd up if you ask me. In my perfect world, anyone attempting to purchase a firearm should have to provide a letter from their physician as to their mental competency before they're allowed to buy one.

99% of gunowners are responsible and law abiding citizens. The other 1% are criminals and criminals do not respect people or laws that is why they are the way they are. By tightening gun laws is only going to hurt those people who already adhere to those laws not criminals.

I am with Firstdown in that we need to look at the whole picture and what is and what is not going on in our culture these days.

I think this brings back to light again what can colleges do to have a better system in dealing with these situations. Universities like Tech and N. Illinois are so much harder to regulate than elementary/middle/high schools.

LB, I'll take your word on the VT thing because it sounds like you know what your talking about.

LB, I'll take your word on the VT thing because it sounds like you know what your talking about.
Well, running background checks and issuing firearms permits is what I do for a living. I take a lot of satisfaction in my job, especially when I know I've had a part in stopping some wife beater, nut job, or all around criminal from obtaining firearms legally. Sure, they can go out on the street and get them, but at least I've made it more difficult for them and slowed them down. The other benefit is that now I have documentation on them that they have been denied firearms and our officers will be alerted to it should they come into contact with those people in the future.

99% of gunowners are responsible and law abiding citizens. The other 1% are criminals and criminals do not respect people or laws that is why they are the way they are. By tightening gun laws is only going to hurt those people who already adhere to those laws not criminals.

I am with Firstdown in that we need to look at the whole picture and what is and what is not going on in our culture these days.
99%? Try about 50% of them being law abiding citizens. Only about half of the people I run backgrounds on have no criminal history. You can have multiple convictions for misdemeanor drug offenses, assault, theft, DWI, etc. and still purchase firearms. You don't have to be a law abiding citizen. Heck, you don't even have to be a citizen to buy legally in this country.

Most everyone else I encounter aren't responsible gun owners. The majority of them don't have a clue about firearms in general. They don't know how to shoot, store or transport them correctly and some don't even know what to do with their permit after it's been issued to them. They have no idea what it means to be responsible and don't really care to educate themselves.

I could go on and on. I deal with so many idiots it's not funny. People are forever coming in and playing dumb about their criminal record, flat out lying to my face and basically trying to BS me on a daily basis. Somedays I just want to reach through the window and strangle them. Luckily for them, I like my job and want to keep it. Bottom line is there are a lot of morons out there buying guns and some have an arsenal of them. If people could spend one day with me and see what I deal with, they'd advocate tighter controls in a heartbeat.

99%? Try about 50% of them being law abiding citizens. Only about half of the people I run backgrounds on have no criminal history. You can have multiple convictions for misdemeanor drug offenses, assault, theft, DWI, etc. and still purchase firearms. You don't have to be a law abiding citizen. Heck, you don't even have to be a citizen to buy legally in this country.

Most everyone else I encounter aren't responsible gun owners. The majority of them don't have a clue about firearms in general. They don't know how to shoot, store or transport them correctly and some don't even know what to do with their permit after it's been issued to them. They have no idea what it means to be responsible and don't really care to educate themselves.

I could go on and on. I deal with so many idiots it's not funny. People are forever coming in and playing dumb about their criminal record, flat out lying to my face and basically trying to BS me on a daily basis. Somedays I just want to reach through the window and strangle them. Luckily for them, I like my job and want to keep it. Bottom line is there are a lot of morons out there buying guns and some have an arsenal of them. If people could spend one day with me and see what I deal with, they'd advocate tighter controls in a heartbeat.
Ok, you issue gun permits how do you know if people are responsable gun owners?