U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock said he is working on a bill that would address mental health laws. (Photo courtesy of Schock's Facebook page)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD - The firearms debate is probably the wrong one for U. S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria).

“Much of what’s being proposed by the Biden Commission would not have prevented the travesty in Connecticut,” Schock said after a talk to a Springfield political group Wednesday. “I am advancing legislation in the House that’s taking on some of these mental health laws."

He said the bill he's working on with U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) has more to do with laws that inhibit the ability to get treatment.

"There's a process that allows, for example, a parent to get treatment for their child," Schock said. "I had a number of constituents in my district call me that have bipolar children … that said, ‘Look, we can’t get them institutionalized, we can’t get them the care that they need.’ There’s funding issues in the state and the like that you’re going to see need to become much more active in the next year.”

When it comes to the federal budget, Schock said he hopes the U. S. Senate can follow the House’s lead.