Senate Republicans Monday morning voted to repeal an Obama administration regulation that prevents individuals with severe mental health conditions from purchasing firearms.
The final Senate vote was 57-43.
Earlier this month, the House voted 235-180, largely along party lines, to roll back the Obama rule requiring the SSA to send records of some beneficiaries to the FBI’s firearms background check system after they’ve been deemed mentally incapable of managing their financial affairs.
The rule change would affect about 75,000 recipients of disability insurance and supplemental insurance income who require a representative to manage their benefits because of a disabling mental disorder, ranging from anxiety to schizophrenia.
Democrats argued that the rule affects a small group of people with severe, long-term mental disorders preventing them from doing any work. Passage of the NRA-backed legislation now puts others at risk, they warned.
“These are not just people having a bad day,” said Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif. “These are not people simply suffering from depression or anxiety. These are people with a severe mental illness who can’t hold any kind of job or make any decisions about their affairs. So the law says very clearly they shouldn’t have a firearm.”
The legislation will now head to President Trump’s desk, where he is expected to sign it.
NCRM adds:
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the batsh#t crazy bill:
Great news, thanks to GOP mentally ill can buy guns again! #MAGA? @SenateMajLdr #resist #ResistTrump #trump #impeachtrump #OccupyWashington
— James E. Selbe (@SelbeConsulting) February 15, 2017
The @GOP has voted to allow around 75,000 mentally impaired people to buy guns
Gods bless ??— Reuben Goldberg (@RubyGold) February 15, 2017
Society's reaction to the mentally ill gentleman holding court in the Embarcadero @SFBART station ? ? pic.twitter.com/OM66dFofCM
— diabolical_mdog (@diabolical_mdog) February 15, 2017
Hey republicans care for severely mentally ill people! They want to let them buy guns? https://t.co/dDUvQuUQOA
— Revolutionist (@r3voIutionist) February 15, 2017
2 of my brother's best friend died when a mentally ill man off his meds came up to their job and shot them both for no reason. https://t.co/xBQEz2bpAG
— lil t (@garretxm_) February 15, 2017
Oh…. This sounds like such a great idea!!!! Let's allow mentally ill folks to buy guns! It makes perfect sense… #WTF https://t.co/K3KRud9WD5
— Pedro Andrade (@pedroandradetv) February 15, 2017
@YahooNews let's just hand out guns to the mentally ill. Real smart senate. Next massacre is on you.
— Julie Hasselberger (@JHasselberger) February 15, 2017
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