Rep. Schneider Brings Together Mental Health, Gun Violence Prevention Leaders To Call for Action to Reduce Gun Violence

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), mental health experts, local law enforcement and gun violence prevention organizations called for urgent action to combat gun violence at today's Mental Health and Gun Violence Prevention roundtable discussion hosted by Rep. Schneider.

Participants of the roundtable, which was held at the Deerfield Police Department, included representatives from the Deerfield Police Department, the National Alliance of Mental Health, Lake County Health Department, Nicasa Behavioral Health Services and Moms Demand Action.

"Congress should expand background checks, limit magazine size and make gun trafficking a federal crime, but legislation alone won't fully address the tragic instances of gun violence," Schneider said. "We must also address the root causes of violence, including help for those suffering from mental illness, which is why I hosted a discussion with our local mental health leaders today to hear more about what resources, tools and support they need."

The Mental Health and Gun Violence Prevention roundtable follows two other gun violence prevention roundtables Rep. Schneider hosted with local police chiefs, gun violence victims and community leaders.

Schneider is a cosponsor of the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act and the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, a bipartisan compromise that would expand background checks. He is also a cosponsor of the Mental Health First Aid Act and the Healthy Minds for Safer Communities Act, which would provide resources for mental health crisis intervention services, provide states with tools to strengthen and enforce gun violence prevention laws, and improve records reporting into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

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