Violence is one of the leading causes of death and injury in the
United States, killing an estimated 50,000 people annually
(1,2), and firearms are a primary contributing factor. In 2006
firearms were involved in 57% percent of all violence-related
deaths in the United States, including 69% of homicides and 51%
of suicides (2). When a person with a mental illness commits a
crime of violence, especially with a firearm, public cries are
often heard to restrict gun access for people with mental
disorders and legislators are quick to implement new
restrictions. However, just how much these measures protect the
public is not at all clear, and their negative consequences are
often ignored. This column describes federal and state efforts
to restrict access to firearms among people with mental illness
and examines evidence of their effectiveness and potential
negative consequences. Restrictions on gun ownership by people
with mental illnesses are by no means recent innovations.
Individuals with a history of involunta