John Dingell calls for audit of criminal background check system in light of Arizona tragedy

[alp227]

Source: Ann Arbor News

Posted: Jan 14, 2011 at 4:29 PM

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, responded today to the recent Arizona shooting tragedy by requesting an audit of the criminal background check system used by federally licensed firearms dealers to determine whether an individual is disqualified from possessing a firearm.

Dingell and two other members of Congress — Carolyn McCarthy, D-New York, and Lois Capp, D-California — made the request in the form of a joint letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, known as the investigative arm of Congress. They're asking for a complete audit of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

"As you know, in the wake of the recent tragic attack on Representative Gabrielle Giffords, which claimed the lives of six individuals and wounded 13 others, there are questions about how the accused attacker, widely believed to be mentally ill, was able to purchase a firearm legally," the letter reads. "While the suspect was not adjudicated mentally deficient or committed to a mental institution, and therefore was not legally prohibited from purchasing a firearm for mental health reasons, questions remain, such as the extent to which he may have been unlawfully using drugs (another federal prohibiter)."

Read more: http://annarbor.com/news/john-dingell-calls-for-audit-of-criminal-background-check-system-in-light-of-arizona-tragedy/

[kestrel91316]

1. This will NEVER happen while the repukes are in charge.

They don't want background checks. They don't want ANY RESTRICTIONS AT ALL on gun ownership.

The fools think that punishing criminals after the fact is all that needs to be done.

[valerief]

2. NRA = No Regulations for America or No Restrictions on Americans. nt

[hayu_lol]

4. First step would be in restoring mental health funding...

might go a long way toward solving a big problem. Better access might have meant that the Tucson shooter would have gone in for a check before 'tipping over'.

Always investigate the investigators, give them a committee and a back room to play in and end up solving nothing.

Under present laws/rules/policy, the shooter was acceptable as a gun purchaser. Now that he has flipped, he is no longer acceptable.

Remove the stigma of mental problems that tend to follow all sufferers throughout their lives...make the care fully funded and available. Single payer would go a long way to achieving this.

[valerief]

7. Well, we need universal healthcare in America. That would include mental healthcare. nt

[Kingofalldems]

3. K and R

A no brainer but someone will fight this.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

5. BRAVO

[Gregorian]

6. I guess it's time I posted this-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtyZMRJbLq8

[bossy22]

8. i support this as a person who is generally pro-gun

This is real "common sense". I will also add that Dingell has an A rating from the NRA and used to sit on the board also.

[Maine_Nurse]

9. Not sure I understand...

No background check would have stopped him since he had no criminal or involuntary committal background. You can't seriously be promoting rights restrictions based on speculation and lay-person comments without proof are you?

[slackmaster]

10. An audit is all well and good, but there's no indication that Loughner was in a prohibited class

I'm not wild about the idea of requiring a drug test in order to buy a gun.

[Kennah]

11. I think it's not so much an issue of background checks ...

... as it is the complex and many headed hydra of mental health.

First and foremost, there is the issue of mental health services and TREATMENT!

[hayu_lol]

12. And the first step in obtaining mental health services and...

treatment is ACCESS. According to a recent program on KGO(SF)on mental health is that access is being denied due to funding cuts...and the bulk of our mentally ill people are placed in prisons rather than getting care from a mental health facility.

Ronnie Raygun led the way...close mental health facilities and just dump the people on the streets.

[Kennah]

13. Correct

Step two, universal health care which includes mental health care. If it's there, but only for the rich ...

[AndyTiedye]

15. Isn't Prison Even More Expensive?

[underpants]

14. Ron Paul and his son HAVE to be on board with this or they are FOS

but then they most likely are FOS so there you have it