Progress on Guns

It took too many years and too many deaths to persuade Congress to act, but President Bush is expected to sign into law today a measure that will make it harder for people with a history of dangerous mental illness to purchase firearms. That is good news, but there is more work to be done.

The new law — the product of a rare partnership between gun control advocates and the National Rifle Association — addresses a glaring problem. Millions of criminal and mental health records are missing from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System used to screen gun purchasers and block sales to people who are disqualified by law from buying guns.

Bill Would Help Curb Gun Violence

Seattle will join other communities around Washington to form a coalition to reduce gun violence.

State Rep. Patricia Lantz, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has agreed to sponsor legislation that would deny guns to anyone who has been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility and improve the reporting of mental health information to the National Instant Background Check System.