House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Statistics show that mental illness is a factor in 22% of mass killings, many of which were perpetrated with a firearm.  However, under federal law, a person suffering from a mental illness is allowed to purchase a firearm unless that person has been formally and involuntarily committed to a mental institution, found not guilty by reason of insanity, or undergone some other formalized court proceeding regarding his or her mental illness. 

 

My legislation will permit individuals who believe that they are a threat to themselves or others to request to be placed on a voluntary firearm purchase self-exclusion list for one year, three years, or five years.  Placement on the list is entirely voluntary and will not infringe on any individual’s Second Amendment rights.  

 

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to enable individuals struggling with mental illness to ensure their own safety as well as the safety of those around them.