Obama: Change gun laws for mentally ill

Presidential candidate says 'some common sense' changes needed

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updated 9:55 a.m. ET April 20, 2007

WASHINGTON - Illinois Democrat and presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama wants stronger laws to prevent the mentally ill from buying guns.

The student who killed 32 people at Virginia Tech, Cho Seung-Hui, had a history of mental health problems but still was able to buy the two guns used in the rampage.

In an interview with the syndicated radio program "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" Obama said gun laws have to change to prevent the type of killings seen this week at Virginia Tech and on a daily basis in urban areas. The senator says "some common sense" changes are needed.

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Obama also says he wants mental health services improved in order to identify people with serious problems who aren't getting treatment.

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