Congratulations to our state legislators for learning the difference between “blue papering” and “white papering.” And I thank them for acting to withhold information from the FBI about temporary committals done for observation.

After Virginia Tech, there was a rush everywhere to do something about “gun-law loopholes.” Few paused to consider the variation in the kinds and severity of mental illness, and differences among states in evaluation and treatment processes.

Talk about “crazy people” and “dangerous crazies” appeared in letters to editors and is still being thrown around the Internet. The implication is “guns don’t kill people, crazy people do.”

There has been wonderment that the National Rifle Association and advocates of strong gun control have worked together. But where is the mystery? The NRA gets credit for being cooperative, and anti-gun lobbyists can claim a success. Fortunately for the people of Maine, there must also have been some clear-headed advocates for those with mental illness.

Why does it matter that Maine will not report any committals except those being done before a judge, with opportunity for the hospitalized person to have an attorney? One reason it matters is because that will reduce the number of people criminalized by being included in the National Criminal Background Check System as “Criminal.”

I hope that Maine’s U.S. senators will pay close attention, and preserve that limitation in federal legislation. That would at least limit the injustice by having fewer sick people linked with people who have done illegal acts.

Let wiser voices prevail, as they have in Maine. Then, let’s find a new name for the Criminal Background Check System or have separate data regarding people with a medical illness of the mind.

Judith de Ponceau

Dover