Darrell Issa: “The mentally ill have for too long been able to get guns. Individuals who have been seen and exposed as being violent or…”

“The mentally ill have for too long been able to get guns. Individuals who have been seen and exposed as being violent or incarcerated for their mental illnesses have too often become their own victims because we haven't paid enough attention to their possession of deadly weapons. This case is different than some because this violent individual also used knives. No matter what, I join on a bipartisan basis, urging that, as we look at a national mental health policy, we include the recognition that it is in other people's best interests. Of course, there are victims of these crimes, but too often, the mentally ill kill themselves with a gun. The mentally ill take their lives. As we look at a terrible tragedy of murder, let's bear in mind that the real reform that we have to get to the root of is that of dealing with the mentally ill better in this country, dealing with the need to take weapons out of their hands and also the need to provide them real opportunity for care. A number of Members of Congress have pieces of legislation that deal with mental health, and although there has been much discussion about gun control, this was really a mental health control question before it was a gun control question. I urge the passage by all of our Members of this balanced bill that was authored by my friend, the gentlelady from Santa Barbara (Mrs.…”