RALEIGH (AP) ó A Senate committee is backing a plan that would prevent some people with mental illnesses from obtaining guns.
A Senate judiciary committee approved a bill Thursday that stems from last yearís deadly shooting at Virginia Tech.
The law would require court clerks to report to the FBI all individuals who are involuntarily committed for mental health treatment. Their names would be entered into a federal database that is used to conduct background checks on gun buyers.
Those whose have been involuntarily committed would be unable to obtain a gun.
Attorney General Roy Cooper backs the plan and told lawmakers Thursday people with dangerous mental illnesses should not be allowed to own firearms. The plan now heads to another Senate committee for consideration.