OK, so my last idea was not well received [View all]

[dumbcat]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027223950#post73

Which I greatly appreciate. I actually expected more agreement, so I am somewhat relieved that the group wouldn't tolerate such an idea.

But, back to the original premise. Many of these mass shooters have had some indications of mental illness in the past, but they never rose to the level where they were adjudicated "dangerous" and denied the purchase of a gun, until they did. President Obama, and others, have said that we need to have a way to prevent dangerous individuals from legally buying guns. The purpose of the Background Check we all support is to have a database of persons considered too dangerous to buy a gun. I don't think many of us have a problem with that. Felons, persons under restraining orders, persons previously adjudicated as mentally ill and a danger to self and others, etc., are all obvious subjects to be in the "no guns" database.

So how do we identify those individuals that have some glimmering of a mental illness (or maybe a psychiatric problem, I'm not sure if I am using the proper terms) that "might" or "could" or "may possibly" become a danger to others at some time in the future? How do we get such persons on the "no guns" list without violating the rights of everyone else?

I know there are many here that will just stick to the "eliminate guns and bullets" meme, but that is just not realistic for several reasons which have all been beaten to death, so please refrain from offering up that solution in response to this post. Please try to answer the question: How do we identify and get "potentially dangerous future mass shooters" put in a Federal database so they can be denied purchase of firearms without violating the rights of everyone else?

I will be away for awhile, but eagerly await some thoughtful responses.