I used to think it was preposterous that violent media/games contributed to real life violence... then I read Colonel Grossman's books (On Combat and On Killing) and I have to say that he changed my mind. They are well worth a read if you are interested in the psychological barriers that make us unwilling to kill and how those barriers are broken down.
As for a national database of the mentally ill... I think that something needs to be done. There are a lot of hard questions: what disqualifies you, how long are you disqualified, what about if it is controlled by medication, how can you appeal, etc... and I don't have the answer to them, but I think we need to start having that conversation. I think we also need to put a lot of resources toward the mental health system in general.
Anyway... I thought it was a fantastic press conference and I can't think of a time when I have been more proud to be a member of the NRA.
