Reply #134: Personally, I think we all do.

[Barack_America]

Mental health awareness is a larger problem in this country than is gun violence (though there's a tremendous overlap).

The semi-automatic distinction was just for argument's sake.

Though it is a fact that many states have it in the books that persons with mental health issues cannot own firearms. And I am waiting (though not necessarily advocating) for the argument that people's mental health status should be evaluated before purchasing a firearm. All it's going to take is for someone exhibiting symptoms of a psychotic break, though with no documented history of mental illness, to be sold a weapon that is subsequently used in a mass killing. We came close with the Virginia Tech massacre, but that kid was still able to pass as sane when he purchased the weapons. It will happen though, and with the way the Right is riling up the wingnuts, it might happen very soon. Hell, it may have happened in Pittsburgh, we'll have to see how that plays out.