[relee]

institutionalized with "severe emotional problems" seven times

Don't they ask you about that on those forms you fill out when you purchase the gun?

[arj]

Interesting addition to the story on the CHB site this morning:

"Carr said the gun was registered in Keene's name and added that her son and his fiance were on their way to "target practice" at the time of the incident. Current federal state and gun laws prohibit sale and registration of firearms to persons who have been hospitalized with mental problems. A law enforcement source said they are investigating to see if Keene withheld information about his mental history when he purchased the firearm."

They do ask the questions but nothing is done if the buyer doesn't own up to his or her background. Maybe his mental record was sealed because he was a juvenile at the time.

This story may end up being a poster child on gun issue (which it should not be). In Virginia, you're not allowed to carry a loaded gun in the passenger section fo the car without a concealed carry permit. The parkway is fedeal property but it was located in Virginia.