Washington - Obama Unveils Biggest Gun-Control Push In Generations |
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U.S. President Barack Obama (C) signs an executive order, beside Vice President Joe Biden (L) and children that wrote the President about gun violence, following his long-awaited gun control proposal in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington DC, USA, 16 January 2013. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDSWashington - President Barack Obama proposed a new assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks for all gun buyers on Wednesday as he tried to channel national outrage over the Newtown school massacre into the biggest U.S. gun-control push in decades.
Rolling out a wide-ranging plan for executive and legislative action to curb gun violence, Obama set up a fierce clash with the powerful U.S. gun lobby and its supporters in Congress, who will resist what they see as an encroachment on constitutionally protected gun rights.
Obama presented his agenda at a White House event in front of an audience that included relatives of some of the 20 first-graders who were killed along with six adults by a gunman on December 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
“We can’t put this off any longer,” Obama said, vowing to use “whatever weight this office holds” to make his proposals reality. “Congress must act soon.”
Until now, Obama had done little to rein in America’s gun culture during his first four years in office. But just days before his second inauguration, he appears determined to champion gun control in his next term with a concerted drive for tighter laws and other steps aimed at preventing new tragedies like the one at Newtown.
The proposals stem from a month-long review led by Vice President Joe Biden, who on orders from Obama met with advocates on both sides, including representatives from the weapons and entertainment industries.
Obama’s plan calls on Congress to renew a prohibition on assault weapons sales that expired in 2004, a requirement for criminal background checks on all gun purchases, including closing a loophole for gun show sales, and a new federal gun trafficking law - long sought by big-city mayors to keep out-of-state guns off their streets.
He also announced 23 steps he intends to take immediately without congressional approval. These include improvements in the existing system for background checks, lifting the ban on federal research into gun violence, putting more counselors and “resource officers” in schools and better access to mental health services.
ASSAULT WEAPONS BATTLE
The most politically contentious piece of the package is Obama’s call for a renewed ban on military-style assault weapons, a move that Republicans who control the House of Representatives are expected to oppose.
The Newtown gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, used a Bushmaster AR-15 type assault rifle to shoot his victims, many of them 6- and 7-year-olds, before killing himself.
Underscoring the tough political fight ahead, the National Rifle Association, launched a scathing advertising campaign against Obama’s gun control effort and deployed its representatives in force on Capitol Hill.
The NRA, which says it has about 4 million members, took aim at Obama in a stinging TV and Internet spot, accusing him of being “just another elitist hypocrite” for accepting Secret Service protection for his two daughters but turning down the lobby group’s proposal to put armed guards in all schools.
As he announced the new gun measures, Obama was flanked on the stage by children from around the country chosen from among those who sent letters to him about gun violence and school safety.
“We should learn from what happened at Sandy Hook. I feel really bad,” a boy wrote in a portion that Obama read from the podium.
With gun ownership rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, gun restrictions have long been a divisive - and risky - issue in American politics.
But polls show that public sentiment shifted in favor of increased gun-control measures after the Newtown shooting, and Obama hopes to take advantage while there is a mood for action in Washington.
However, the White House is mindful that the clock is ticking. The usual pattern after U.S. shooting tragedies is that memories of the events soon fade, making it hard to sustain a push for gun policy changes.
Obama acknowledged the political challenges but made clear that he is prepared to take on the NRA, despite its widespread support among Republicans and significant backing among Democrats.
He warned that opponents of his effort would try to “gin up fear” and urged lawmakers to think more about the safety of schoolchildren than trying to “get an ‘A’ grade from the gun lobby that supports their campaign.”
Obama’s plan appears to tread cautiously on the question of whether violent movies and video games contribute to the gun violence, which would open up issues of freedom of expression.
A senior administration official said, however, that Obama would be asking for $10 million for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the root causes of gun violence, including any relationship to video games and media images.
Seeking to jump-start his plan, Obama also nominated Todd Jones to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, quietly abandoning Andrew Traver, whose nomination for the job has long been stalled. Jones is currently the acting director of the law enforcement agency.
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Read Comments (24) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 16, 2013 at 12:20 PM InsideOne Says:Report as Inappropriate
"Lifting the ban on federal research into gun violence"...all I can say, is what took so long?
For all those NRA-supporters here, I gotta say, it tells me something when the NRA has gone all-out to suppress our ability to even find out what we're dealing with when it comes to gun violence...maybe, just maybe, there's stuff they don't want the public to know? It's way easier to maintain a pack of lies when you've succeeded in demanding our collective ignorance.
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Jan 16, 2013 at 01:10 PM Texas_Eli Says:Report as Inappropriate
"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."
You can google the source yourself...
3
Jan 16, 2013 at 01:27 PM concerned_Jew Says:Report as Inappropriate
He had some good ideas but please ask you representative not to approve gun ban legislation. Let's try his executive order ideas first, may be enough.
4
Jan 16, 2013 at 01:30 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Even the research $ for gun violence research should be denied unless there is an objective group of researchers and if that is not possible then the findings would be skewed. The issue is so political it is hard to come up with any ideas that work to really reduce violence without trampling on our constituion which is the best protect we Jews have against be tyranized.
5
Jan 16, 2013 at 01:38 PM Voice-of-Reason Says:Report as Inappropriate
Mexico has a ban on all weapons for private citizens, yet their law abiding unarmed population is being killed off wholesale by the criminals. Weapons bans allows the criminality to go unchecked.
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Jan 16, 2013 at 02:21 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Mexico has a ban on all weapons for private citizens, yet their law abiding unarmed population is being killed off wholesale by the criminals. Weapons bans allows the criminality to go unchecked. ”
Mexico does not have "a ban on all weapons for private citizens," in fact Mexico is one of of very few countries that has a right to bear arms enshrined in it's Constitution. Mexico does have strict gun laws, but so do most civilized Western countries, all of which have far fewer gun deaths than the US. In 1996 Australia -- a far better comparative country to the US -- passed a real assault weapons ban and a significant decline in mass killings and gun deaths followed. Cherry-picking a third world country overrun by drug cartels while conveniently ignoring all of Western Europe, Asia, Israel, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc, hardy makes you sound like the voice of reason.
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Jan 16, 2013 at 02:24 PM yossele Says:Report as Inappropriate
I am bothered by the bans. Didn't work for alcohol. Doesn't work for drugs. Won't make a DENT in gun crime.
And why assault rifles? Is it because of the dangerous sounding name?!
Obama, Cuomo and Bloomberg have exactly zero knowledge of guns and shooting, and seem to ignore all crime data. "Assault rifle" cartridges are specifically designed to have low lethality. The ACR that Lanza entered the school with was the LEAST LETHAL weapon he possessed...
Rifles are the LEAST used weapons in crime and also the least lethal. So, why?!
8
Jan 16, 2013 at 04:46 PM ayinglefunadorf Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Even the research $ for gun violence research should be denied unless there is an objective group of researchers and if that is not possible then the findings would be skewed. The issue is so political it is hard to come up with any ideas that work to really reduce violence without trampling on our constituion which is the best protect we Jews have against be tyranized. ”
"trampling on our constitution which is the best we Jews have against be tyranized" I am sure happy that in the Crown Heights riots they didnt have guns. We would have been finished like in Europa before. We are about 1% of the USA if the 99% will have guns Ay Wey we can look for a new place. The C onstitution does nothing to prevent the 99% to kill the 1 or 5% Rememeber not long ago NO JEWS ALLOWED signs in Hotels, Clubs, Jobs etc. If New York City would have allowed guns Nebach we could have lost 1000s of lives like in the Progroms. There is a reason that 99% of Yidden live in places with strict gun control. New-York,Boston,Chicago,La. etc I dont know many yidden (not even one) who lives in Montana,Nebraska,Louisiana,North Dakota,Wild West etc. I doubt that NRA has 1 single Frumm jewish member.
9
Jan 16, 2013 at 04:50 PM ayinglefunadorf Says:Report as Inappropriate
Hello, the NRA has 4.2 million members. Does anyone know or ever met a frumme yid who is a member?? I dont think so.
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Jan 16, 2013 at 05:34 PM ShmuelG Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Hello, the NRA has 4.2 million members. Does anyone know or ever met a frumme yid who is a member?? I dont think so. ”
I know few. And I am sure many more keep ti to themselves. And I am talking about really frum men, not modern allegedly orthodox such as you. What's your point?
11
Jan 16, 2013 at 05:40 PM Voice-of-Reason Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Mexico does not have "a ban on all weapons for private citizens," in fact Mexico is one of of very few countries that has a right to bear arms enshrined in it's Constitution. Mexico does have strict gun laws, but so do most civilized Western countries, all of which have far fewer gun deaths than the US. In 1996 Australia -- a far better comparative country to the US -- passed a real assault weapons ban and a significant decline in mass killings and gun deaths followed. Cherry-picking a third world country overrun by drug cartels while conveniently ignoring all of Western Europe, Asia, Israel, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc, hardy makes you sound like the voice of reason. ”
The current weapons situation in Mexico is as follows: There is now only one legal gun store in Mexico -- in Mexico City -- and buyers must wait months for approval of purchase from the Ministry of Defense. Purchases are limited to small caliber, non-military weapons that must be kept at home; semi-automatic weapons are only sold to military and police. After the 1960s, Mexican law was changed to prohibit private citizens from openly carrying a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon. And why would I compare to Israel. Have you ever seen the number of people that openly carry samiautomatic weapons there?
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Jan 16, 2013 at 06:52 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The current weapons situation in Mexico is as follows: There is now only one legal gun store in Mexico -- in Mexico City -- and buyers must wait months for approval of purchase from the Ministry of Defense. Purchases are limited to small caliber, non-military weapons that must be kept at home; semi-automatic weapons are only sold to military and police. After the 1960s, Mexican law was changed to prohibit private citizens from openly carrying a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon. And why would I compare to Israel. Have you ever seen the number of people that openly carry samiautomatic weapons there? ”
You said, and I quote, "Mexico has a ban on all weapons for private citizens". Not true. In fact, patently false. First educate yourself, then engage in warn out talking points that have no basis in fact.
I was debating whether to include Israel (not that 30 plus other western with strict gun laws aren't enough to make my case against your useless third-world drug slum example), but I decided to include in anyway, for a common misconception is that Israel has lax gun laws, when in fact it has some of the strictest gun laws in the western world. In Israel you have no "right" to own a gun and must be subject to strict repeated background and psychiatric evaluations in order to acquire one. You must provide a compelling justification for owning a gun, and thus Israeli gun ownership is 1/13th of what is in the US. Most of the people (outside of the settlements) that "open carry" in Israel, are security personal, not private citizens.
13
Jan 16, 2013 at 07:23 PM ayinglefunadorf Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I know few. And I am sure many more keep ti to themselves. And I am talking about really frum men, not modern allegedly orthodox such as you. What's your point? ”
Frum men doesnt own guns. Its not legal in Boro Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Monroe, Lakewood etc. Show me one news article in the last 50 years when a frumme yid used his gun in the USA. Gun owners live in Texas,Wyoming,No Dakota,Alabama,etc where we dont even visit. The point is that we are a small minority in the USA and its not good to us if the 95% will own guns.
14
Jan 16, 2013 at 09:55 PM Question Says:Report as Inappropriate
In the last thirty years gun control laws have increased dramatically, yet gun violence has exploded. If the answer to gun violence is stricter laws how come violence isn't decreasing?
The answer is the desensitizing of life perpetuated by Hollywood and video games. Today's generation is being brought up with violence in their psyche. If Obama is really serious about decreasing violence, he should talk to his friends in Hollywood.
15
Jan 16, 2013 at 10:05 PM BoruchN Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Mexico has a ban on all weapons for private citizens, yet their law abiding unarmed population is being killed off wholesale by the criminals. Weapons bans allows the criminality to go unchecked. ”
Dear 'Voice of Reason,'
RIGHT!
This is the whole point. Our government is weak! Why so much crime? The price of crime in America is $1.7 trillion per year! You pay $5,000 a year for crime! YES!
All the 'Knee Jerk Liberals' are NOT THINKING!
I was a victim of 'The Crown Heights Pogrom of 1991.'
Who would, in his/her right mind trust this government? Remember S. M. Rubashkin? etc.
What! I'm an ungrateful American? This is the best country around...prove it. If we judge America according to its ideals: 'One nation, under G-d...etc.' 'Motherhood and apple pie...' etc. America succeeds?
The Aggregate Burden of Crime in America
http://www7.esc.edu/vvernon/AggregateBurden_Anderson99.pdf
16
Jan 16, 2013 at 10:29 PM InsideOne Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Dear 'Voice of Reason,'
RIGHT!
This is the whole point. Our government is weak! Why so much crime? The price of crime in America is $1.7 trillion per year! You pay $5,000 a year for crime! YES!
All the 'Knee Jerk Liberals' are NOT THINKING!
I was a victim of 'The Crown Heights Pogrom of 1991.'
Who would, in his/her right mind trust this government? Remember S. M. Rubashkin? etc.
What! I'm an ungrateful American? This is the best country around...prove it. If we judge America according to its ideals: 'One nation, under G-d...etc.' 'Motherhood and apple pie...' etc. America succeeds?
The Aggregate Burden of Crime in America
http://www7.esc.edu/vvernon/AggregateBurden_Anderson99.pdf ”
"What! I'm an ungrateful American? This is the best country around...prove it."
That's an easy one: you're still here! If there's a better country out there, I'm sure you'd be on your way.
17
Jan 16, 2013 at 11:14 PM Kzler Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I know few. And I am sure many more keep ti to themselves. And I am talking about really frum men, not modern allegedly orthodox such as you. What's your point? ”
any frum person who is in love with guns needs a mental health professional
18
Jan 16, 2013 at 11:27 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ In the last thirty years gun control laws have increased dramatically, yet gun violence has exploded. If the answer to gun violence is stricter laws how come violence isn't decreasing?
The answer is the desensitizing of life perpetuated by Hollywood and video games. Today's generation is being brought up with violence in their psyche. If Obama is really serious about decreasing violence, he should talk to his friends in Hollywood. ”
There have been no real gun control measures put into place over the last 30 years. Most are watered down nonsense with a million loop holes. That being said, gun deaths are way down since the early 90's so gun violence is decreasing.
Obama specifically mentioned Hollywood and video games in his speech today, and suggested that Washington fund research to determine its impact on gun violence.
19
Jan 16, 2013 at 11:43 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ There have been no real gun control measures put into place over the last 30 years. Most are watered down nonsense with a million loop holes. That being said, gun deaths are way down since the early 90's so gun violence is decreasing.
Obama specifically mentioned Hollywood and video games in his speech today, and suggested that Washington fund research to determine its impact on gun violence. ”
So Obama is going to do a study. That's reassuring.
BTW thirty years ago any American could have gone into any store and legally bought a Bushmaster "assault" rifle no questions asked, and how many school shooting were there? None!
20
Jan 17, 2013 at 01:54 AM ayinglefunadorf Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Dear 'Voice of Reason,'
RIGHT!
This is the whole point. Our government is weak! Why so much crime? The price of crime in America is $1.7 trillion per year! You pay $5,000 a year for crime! YES!
All the 'Knee Jerk Liberals' are NOT THINKING!
I was a victim of 'The Crown Heights Pogrom of 1991.'
Who would, in his/her right mind trust this government? Remember S. M. Rubashkin? etc.
What! I'm an ungrateful American? This is the best country around...prove it. If we judge America according to its ideals: 'One nation, under G-d...etc.' 'Motherhood and apple pie...' etc. America succeeds?
The Aggregate Burden of Crime in America
http://www7.esc.edu/vvernon/AggregateBurden_Anderson99.pdf ”
"I was a victim of the Crown Heights Pogrom of 1991" Thank G-d everu day that NYC has gun control. Can you imagine that Pogrom with Ten thousand machine guns?
21
Jan 17, 2013 at 01:59 AM esther Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Mexico does not have "a ban on all weapons for private citizens," in fact Mexico is one of of very few countries that has a right to bear arms enshrined in it's Constitution. Mexico does have strict gun laws, but so do most civilized Western countries, all of which have far fewer gun deaths than the US. In 1996 Australia -- a far better comparative country to the US -- passed a real assault weapons ban and a significant decline in mass killings and gun deaths followed. Cherry-picking a third world country overrun by drug cartels while conveniently ignoring all of Western Europe, Asia, Israel, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc, hardy makes you sound like the voice of reason. ”
there is exactly one government owned store in the entire country of mexico where it's legal to buy a gun.here in the south west and california,mexican and other gangs are so rampant,huge and out of control, it's questionable how apt it is to compare us to austraila etc.
22
Jan 17, 2013 at 02:07 AM esther Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ In the last thirty years gun control laws have increased dramatically, yet gun violence has exploded. If the answer to gun violence is stricter laws how come violence isn't decreasing?
The answer is the desensitizing of life perpetuated by Hollywood and video games. Today's generation is being brought up with violence in their psyche. If Obama is really serious about decreasing violence, he should talk to his friends in Hollywood. ”
excellent points and an excellent suggestion however i don't think speilberg and striesand would ever allow that.
23
Jan 17, 2013 at 10:57 AM ayinglefunadorf Says:Report as Inappropriate
I have never seen a picture of gun toting Jews Group: Chassidim, Satmar, Ultra Orthodox,Orthodox, Modern Orthodox,Conservative,Reform etc. Thats belong to the KKK, Neo Nazis, and similar groups. So i dont understand the debate on this sight at all. If anyone knows of a picture on the web of anytype of yewish gathering with guns please post it. There is thousand pictures of Ku Klux Klan, Neo Nazis marching with guns,
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Jan 18, 2013 at 03:50 AM hitler banned guns Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Frum men doesnt own guns. Its not legal in Boro Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Monroe, Lakewood etc. Show me one news article in the last 50 years when a frumme yid used his gun in the USA. Gun owners live in Texas,Wyoming,No Dakota,Alabama,etc where we dont even visit. The point is that we are a small minority in the USA and its not good to us if the 95% will own guns. ”
Hitler first banned guns, then he rounded up all the jews to the gas chambers, so if its true what u say, if guns were banned it shud have been good for jews.... well infact after hilter un-armed evryome took away the guns, he was able to dictate and kill out the jews without anyone fighting back, so go lean some history before you talk whats good for jews and whats not. if jews wud have guns they wud be able to fight hitler and obama is going in hitler's foot-steps