Wisconsin lawmakers will debate a bill Tuesday that would legislate background checks for people with a history of mental illness who try to purchase firearms.
The bill would require mental health information, under special circumstances, to be given to a federal database for background checks.
Under current federal law, people involuntarily committed to mental hospitals are prohibited from owning firearms.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice currently receives information on mental illness from courts but does not share it with the National Instant Background Check System, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Only 23 states currently submit this information.
John Hogan, spokesperson for the bill's co-author state Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, said the loopholes"" in the information reported to the NICS became a real concern after the Virginia Tech shootings last spring.
The Virginia Tech shooter, Seung-Hui Cho, had a history of mental illness.
""This bill does not create any new prohibitions for gun purchases; rather, it simply makes new information available to DOJ and NICS that is required under law,"" said the bill's co-author, state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford.
Hogan said the National Rifle Association supports this bill.
Kenneth J. Herrmann, an assistant clinical professor of social work at UW-Madison, said the bill could possibly perpetuate a stereotypical view of people with mental illnesses.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said he supports the bill because only those placed involuntarily into treatment are affected, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The full Assembly will vote on the bill this Wednesday, and a Senate committee will hold a hearing of the companion bill Tuesday.
Hogan said there should be time to get the bill passed before lawmakers conclude work on March 13.
""It is a common sense thing that needs to get done and should get done,"" Hogan said.
