WASHINGTON (AP) — James Brady, the affable, witty press secretary who survived a devastating head wound in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan and undertook a personal crusade for gun control, died Monday. He was 73.In honor of Mr. Brady, I say it's time to bring the deadly/life altering affects of gun violence to life again.
Got an email from Sandyhook parent of Dylan Hockley today asking for help in getting a new effort off the ground to not only continue to fight the lax gun laws in the country that allowed her son to be murdered along with 19 other children and 6 teachers, but to also introduce new legislation to deal with mental health. It's called "Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer Communities." The goal is to promote and push for mental health and domestic violence legislation.
The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., would prohibit someone who has been subject to involuntary outpatient commitment at a mental health facility from purchasing or possessing firearms if a court has deemed that person dangerous. Current federal law has been interpreted to only prevent gun possession by someone whose background includes an inpatient commitment.Rest peacefully Mr. Brady. The fight goes on.Thompson's legislation, H.R. 4783, also includes provisions to boost mental health research and improve how mental health records are submitted to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which is used to check potential gun buyers.
Additionally, it would prohibit firearms possession by individuals convicted of stalking.