RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell is seeking stricter laws prohibiting people with documented mental problems from purchasing guns.
Despite federal law prohibiting anyone declared “mentally defective” from purchasing a gun, a Virginia state law did not require the screening of Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hui Cho from getting two handguns because he was never involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital. McDonnell hopes to adjust the state law to match up with the federal measure.
However, McDonnell is not condemning the state’s roll in allowing Cho to purchase the weapons. While federal law may have restricted Cho’s purchase from a federally licensed gun dealer, he would have faced no such constraints if he bought through a private dealer.
According McDonnell, an executive order from Gov. Tim Kaine, a special session of the General Assembly or regulatory changes by the agencies involved would be required to amend the state law. Kaine is still in the process of deciding how to proceed.
Gun rights groups contend that rescinding a policy that prohibits Virginia Tech student from having guns on campus could have helped avert the tragedy.
