Mental health gun law not effective without states’ reports

A law passed in 2008 would ensure people with a history of severe mental illness can’t purchase guns. But the federal law requires cooperation from the states, which doesn’t always happen.

Health & Science reporter Maiken Scott reports the National Instant Criminal Background Check system doesn’t have records from Pennsylvania. That means if a mentally ill person from the state moves across state lines or shoots someone in another state, records for that person aren’t available.

New legislation could change the current system.