House OKs Gun Bill to Limit Buys by Mentally Ill; NRA Supports Legislation for States to Share Records with FBI

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Byline: Eric Pfeiffer, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Democrat-led House, responding to the Virginia Tech shootings, yesterday passed its first gun regulation law, an NRA-backed bill designed to keep mentally ill persons from illegally purchasing firearms.

The legislation, which passed on a voice vote, would require states to automate and share records with the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) database. In addition, the bill provides $250 million a year over the next three years to assist states in meeting the requirements and impose penalties on states that fail to comply with the new regulations.

"The bill the House passed today with …