On April 29th, the CBS program 60 Minutes aired a segment entitled “Armed and Dangerous: Law Bans Sale of Firearms to People with a History of Severe Mental Illness” in which correspondent Steve Kroft evaluated this multifaceted issue. As it turns out, a federal law was passed in 1968 banning the sale of firearms to "people with a history of severe mental illness," but it has never been enforced for a variety of reasons. In this investigative report, Kroft interviewed both proponents of a firearm sales ban for those with severe mental illness as well as those opposed to this type of legislation. The discussion raised salient points for both sides of the issue. What do you think?

Poll: Should people who have severe mental illnesses be banned from buying firearms?

• Yes, if individual privacy rights can be protected.
• Yes, public safety is more important than privacy rights.
• No, the right to privacy comes first.
• No, no one should be denied the right to purchase firearms.
• The United States needs stricter gun control laws across the board.

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