Rhode Island is one of about 15 states that don’t submit mental-health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, according to Mayors Against Illegal Guns. The FBI’s system, known as NICS, is intended to screen out people prohibited from buying guns, such as convicted felons, undocumented immigrants and people with serious mental illnesses or substance-abuse problems
A special task force voted unanimously to approve a final report on ways that Rhode Island can submit records that will prevent people with serious mental illnesses and prone to violence from purchasing firearms.
It’s now up to the General Assembly whether to adopt the recommendations made by the Joint Behavioral Health and Firearms Safety Task Force. The 20-member panel met for several months to determine the best way for Rhode Island to submit mental-health records to a national firearms background check system — without violating confidentiality or discouraging people from seeking treatment. They focused on barring people from buying guns if they are seriously mentally ill and prone to violence to themselves or others.
Read more at: http://www.providencejournal.com/
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