Bill to keep guns from mentally ill a 'knee jerk' reaction?

That's what one top Republican lawmakers aide called a bill that would keep firearms out of the hands of mentally ill Americans.

Prompted by the Virginia Tech massacre, a U.S. Congress reluctant to tackle gun control may pass limited legislation to help keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill, lawmakers and aides said on Sunday.

"Given the horror that happened at Virginia Tech, I think there's a real chance of passing this," said Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), a New York Democrat, told "Fox News Sunday."

A Republican leadership aide agreed, telling Reuters, "If there is a consensus, and it is in lieu of knee-jerk draconian measures, (the chances are) probably really good."

Seriously, are these people so damn hellbent on destruction, and determined to put firearms in the hands of every man, woman, and child that they completely lack the ability to think clearly? WHY weren't laws like this put into place LONG ago? WHY does anyone, much less a mentally ill person have the need to purchase, and possess a firearm? This is not a knee jerk reaction, it's a LONG OVERDUE safeguard. Hopefully it's the first of many that Congress will consider.