Will Mental Health Elements of Gun Law Prevent Mass Shootings?
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President Joe Biden signed into law the most extensive gun safety legislation in decades. Coming after a rash of mass shootings this year, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act expands background checks for gun purchasers younger than 21 years and stiffens penalties against so-called straw purchasers, who buy a gun and sell it to someone who is not authorized to own it. The measure includes $60 million in new funds over 5 years to provide mental health training for pediatricians who treat children and youth. While experts who spoke to Medscape Medical News said they welcomed the new resources, they cautioned that it is unlikely that the measures will end mass shootings.
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@mandeep Providing more resources for clinicians, for pediatricians, for primary care providers to improve the provision of mental health counseling and risk-based counseling is potentially very beneficial.