Governor closes loophole that let Virginia Tech gunman buy arms
The governor on Monday closed the loophole in state law that allowed the Virginia Tech gunman to buy weapons despite a court ruling that he was a threat and needed psychiatric counseling.
Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine issued an executive order requiring that a database of people banned from buying guns include the name of anyone who is found to be dangerous and ordered to get involuntary mental health treatment, whether inpatient or outpatient.
Seung-hui Cho was told to get counseling in 2005 after a judge ruled that he was a danger to himself.
But because Cho was treated as an outpatient and was never committed to a mental health hospital, the court’s decision was not entered into the database, which gun dealers must check before selling a weapon.
“Whether that treatment is to be provided in an inpatient or outpatient facility is of no moment,” Kaine said.
Cho did not disclose his mental health problems or the court-ordered treatment in a form he completed before buying the guns.
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