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Subscribe to RSSIn an emotional press conference, President Obama unveiled his "concrete steps" to keep kids safe, asking that Congress restore a ban on military-style assault weapons, make it easier for mental health professionals to report threats of violence and put a limit on ammunition. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
Updated 2:56 p.m. -- President Barack Obama unveiled sweeping new policies Wednesday aimed at limiting gun violence, teeing up a political showdown that will pit the broad public popularity for many gun control measures against Congress’s tepid appetite for approving the most stringent restrictions on gun ownership.
"While there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil," Obama said at a mid-day announcement at the White House, "if there's even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there's even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try it."
Acknowledging the difficulty of the Congressional fight ahead, Obama appealed for public support, slamming - as he did in a press conference earlier this week - conservative commentators and the most vocal pro-gun activists for "ginning up" opposition to gun reforms for political reasons.
"I will put everything I've got into this and so will Joe [Biden], but I tell you, the only way we can change is if the American people demand it," he said.
Some of the main legislative proposals backed by Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are:
- requiring criminal background checks on all gun sales, including private sales
- banning "military-style" assault weapons
- limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds
- strengthening penalties for gun trafficking
"The most important changes we can make depend on Congressional action," Obama said. "They need to bring these proposals up for a vote and the American people need to make sure that they do."
Related Information: Gun Violence Fact Sheet | Gun Violence Executive Summary | Gun Violence Reduction Executive Actions
The president also signed a series of 23 executive actions - free from a Congressional blockade -- intended to strengthen existing laws, augment mental health measures and promote federal research on gun crime through the Centers for Disease Control.
The executive actions announced included stricter prosecution of would-be gun buyers who fail background checks as well as new requirements for federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.
The president's recommendations also direct administration officials to "clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes" and to "release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities."
Obama and Biden were joined at the White House event by families of the Newtown school shooting victims as well as by four children who wrote the president after the tragedy that left 20 young students dead.
"This is our first task as a society: keeping our children safe," Obama said at the beginning of his remarks. "This is how we will be judged, and their voices should compel us to change."
Biden, who led the presidential task-force on gun safety in the wake of the Newtown shootings, praised the activists who met with his staff over the last week to help build the list of recommendations.
"The world has changed and it's demanding action," Biden said.
While some of Obama's long-expected proposals - like universal background checks - garner overwhelming public support, the outlawing of certain types of weapons may be less of a slam dunk for lawmakers eager to appease constituents.
A recent poll from the Pew Research Center showed that a majority of Americans -- 55 percent -- back a ban on "assault-style weapons," with 40 percent saying they don't approve of a ban. But a partisan breakdown shows that only about four in ten Republicans support such restrictions, compared to a broad majority of Democrats.
Democrats in Congress have already voiced doubts about the feasibility of the president's most ambitious proposals.
"We're not going to get an outright ban" on assault weapons, Democrat Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York bluntly said yesterday.
"[Senate Majority Leader] Reid has said he doesn't know whether he has the votes (for an assault weapons ban)," she added. "There's heavy lifting, so are we going to waste time on heavy lifting? Or are we going to try to work on doing something that could actually get passed?"
Related: Obama's gun plans spark little enthusiasm with key lawmakers
Supporters are more optimistic about background checks and magazine restrictions.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced Wednesday that his panel will hold its first hearing on issues relating to gun violence on Jan. 30.
In his remarks Wednesday, Obama anticipated opponents' reactions to his proposals.
"This will be difficult," he said. "There will be pundits and politicians and special interest lobbyists publicly warning of a tyrannical all-out assault on liberty. Not because that's true, but because they want to gin up fear or higher ratings or revenue for themselves, and behind the scenes they will do everything they can to block any commonsense reform and make sure nothing changes whatsoever."
The National Rifle Association, the country's most powerful gun lobby, released a statement Wednesday afternoon in response to the president's remarks.
"We look forward to working with Congress on a bi-partisan basis to find real solutions to protecting America's most valuable asset - our children. Attacking firearms and ignoring children is not a solution to the crisis we face as a nation," the NRA wrote. "Only honest, law-abiding gun owners will be affected and our children will remain vulnerable to the inevitability of more tragedy."
That statement was relatively muted in comparison to the group's controversial ad released Tuesday night, which criticized Obama's dismissal of the gun lobby's proposal to increase armed security in schools.
"Are the president's kids more important than yours?" a narrator asks in the short ad. "Then why is he skeptical about putting armed security in our schools when his kids are protected by armed guards at their schools? Mr. Obama demands the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes, but he's just another elitist hypocrite when it comes to a fair share of security."
Related: White House calls NRA 'repugnant,' 'cowardly' for invoking president's children in ad
The ad prompted outcry from observers who said the First Family should be off limits for such advertisements, while NRA backers say their focus is on school safety rather than on the president's daughters themselves.
"Whoever thinks the ad is about President Obama's daughters are missing the point completely or they're trying to change the subject," said spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. "This ad is about keeping our children safe. And the president said he was skeptical about the NRA proposal to put policemen in all schools in this country. Yet he and his family are beneficiaries of multiple law enforcement officers surrounding them 24 hours a day."
White House spokesman Jay Carney shot back that the ad is "cowardly."
"Most Americans agree that a president's children should not be used as pawns in a political fight," he said. "But to go so far as to make the safety of the President's children the subject of an attack ad is repugnant and cowardly."
NBC's Mark Murray, Frank Thorp, Ali Weinberg and Kelly O'Donnell contributed to this report.
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the politition death wish will be done today all we need is the hit list,and it will start
The very simple language of our 2nd Amendment:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Those that turn their weapons into plowshares will be plowing for those that did not!
Guns DON'T Kill.............. but Abortions DO!
Since 1973 (Roe v Wade) to the present over 50,000,000+ INNOCENT CHILDREN have been slain!
Hey Libs...... Where's YOUR Outrage?
Those who are making political hay from
the tragedy at Newport are truly the most despicable group of
politicians I've encountered in my 72 years. If anyone examined their
proposals and the constant barrage of media hype that surrounds these
proposals and used any sort of research, the outright lies these
people speak should certainly poison any chance their proposals would
pass. They certainly want to trash an enumerated right. What they
propose, limits on the quantity of rounds in magazines, cosmetic
features in some guns, a plethora of prior restraint, legal filters,
limits and outright bans of more effective weapons neither caused the
tragedy nor will prevent other new ones.
Those clever men who wrote the document
that Christian-ed this republic were well aware that vetting an armed
population would have a price. There were criminals and madmen in
the eighteenth century just as there will always be. But these
framers had just created a republic whose central notion was the
supremacy of the individual and limits on the powers of the state.
The history of America is filled with examples of conflicts between
individual rights and state powers. When the individual prevails, the
nation exemplifies the shining light it has been historically. When
the state prevails, we slip towards the terrible system our
fore-father's blood overthrew. This use of Lanza's crime by these
collectivists is a sin. Ask yourself; does anyone think these new
laws will prevent evil? If your answer is no, then ask whether the
Obamas and Pelosis will simply ask for more control than this time?
And then ask yourself, is this whole effort an effort towards public
safety or just another power grab by the state to disenfranchise
individuals and increase that tyranny called 'social control'. Your
freedom is at stake here.
All current and future gun owner must pass a psychological evaluation.
Sounds like a better plan to me.
What if a person is found to be depressed, can they no longer buy a firearm?
I have a better idea, all current presidents and elected officials must pass a psychological evaluation. Problem solved!
I agree. Guns alone do no harm whatsoever. Guns in the hands of the incapable and unstable is a much more pertinent issue.
Obama is proposing a firearm taking. 'Assault styled weapons' account for less then 20% of murders. Obama is putting a bandaid on where there's not even a cut. F this.
Wrong percentage, it's 2%..
Knee jerk... Let's just add to the pile of already worthless gun laws.
Lets just begin the impeachment proceedings now. The studys that we have done where i live are not even close to this 55% of the population wants gun bans, it is more like 28% for and 70% against. Mr obama is a hypocrite to say the least, Mr obama nees to go and biden needs a hairdoo.
That's because they only poll liberal inner cities, DC, NYC, San Francisco and the like. Polls are useless because they can be made to say anything you want.
For all you people that keep knocking the 2nd Amendment, you need to do some History reading. Question???? Why was the Bill Of Rights created? Don't just start running off with the keyboard--- Find out the facts. The Constitution was written first and then........ there was a reason for the Bill Of Rights. If you are so intelligent, you should be able to figure it out. If NOT, then you should not even be in this discussion. Thank you and have a great day. God Bless America and the rights that were granted by our Creator.
Unless tha same rules apply to the SS army that guards Barack and his family this is pure demaguery.
Yes, Obama please be the first to show us what a shining example you are for us. Disarm your security detail of all 'assualt style weapons'.
Really? For anyone to even try to compare the protection afforded to the President and his family, to an individual's rights to protect their own, is the most ridiculous-well one of the most ridiculous-statements on this entire thread. The average American is not an international TARGET. @Bob-2540553 and alan_static, how many death threats do you receive on a daily basis? Does every terroist in the world know YOUR name, YOUR address, and those of all of your family members? It doesn't matter who the President of the US is, what his or her beliefs or agendas are, they are singularly the most powerful and important person in our country. Do you honestly believe that whoever is in that position, who voluntarily puts their life and the life of their family in that position, doesn't require the highest form of protection? Do some research on cases involving self-defense and see if you feel that the type of weapons used to protect the President would be necessary in those cases.
There is only one reasonablely useful measure listed, "requiring criminal background checks on all gun sales, including private sales". Everything else is pointless.
I have noticed a LOT of these crimes are committed with weapons acquired from the family arsenal. Kids tend to show up with their parents' weapons. I think the owners of unsecured weapons should be held liable. Increase the penalty for that crime first. Maybe Mom and Dad will start locking up their weapons like they are supposed to.
Except that criminal background checks are already done when guns are purchased.
Criminal background checks are only required in all states when the gun is being sold by a licensed gun dealer. There are only 7 states that require background checks on any other gun sale. So in 43 states you can legally purchase a gun at a gun show from a private seller, online, at a flea market, and possibly not be subjected to a background check. This is part of the proposed legislation that most people aren't focused on. Along with requiring gun owners to safely and securely store their guns, something that could have prevented the Newtown event. All mom had to do was lock her guns in a safe when not in her possession and not provide an unstable person access to them. Common sense laws...
He will then be able to say truthfully that the American people WANTED him to violate the Constitution. IF you really want gun regulations, agitate to amend the Constitution, not sidestep it.
He already knows he doesn't have a chance to amend the Constitution on this one.
Sounds like we all are sheeple! People need to question.
BWAHAHAHA.
This amounted to nothing.
MSN is finaly seeing Harry Reid for who he is:
"[Senate Majority Leader] Reid has said he doesn't know whether he has the votes (for an assault weapons ban)," she added. "There's heavy lifting, so are we going to waste time on heavy lifting? Or are we going to try to work on doing something that could actually get passed?"
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
THAT is the Second amendment as written. It gives a reason for, then a RIGHT TO THE PEOPLE. Unless you are willing to concede the First amendment doesn't apply to modern media like radio, TV, and Internet, you have to accept the second applies to modern weapons. And the modern handgun is every bit as much a weapon of mass destruction as the so-called 'assault rifle' And considering more children are killed EVERY MONTH in Chicago- with its strict gun control laws- than in the Connecticut school shooting.
IMPEACH THIS MOTHER*UCKER NOW BEFORE IT'S TO LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope some crazy does something or were all screwed. This is the beging of the end. They will have a ban and confinscate all weapons within 2 years of this start
"The president also laid out a series of 23 executive actions - free from a Congressional blockade --"
Or what was formally know in the Republic of The United States of America as "checks and balances" within OUR government.
Congress and the Supreme Court are there for reasons
It does NOT matter if the KING is named Bush or Obama he has no right to DICTATE ANY OF OUR RIGHTS
And should be brought up on charges of treason if he does.
This to me, is a bigger issue "23 executive actions - free from a Congressional blockade" and an impeachable offense. He is passing legistlation via executive order, which bypasses the legislative process. Sounds like a dictatorship to me.
Sounds like treason to me.
The AR15 is the most popular rifle sold in America today. It is a semi-automatic rifle that fires a .223 centerfire cartridge. This is the least powerful cartridge one can legally hunt with in many states. When loaded with frangible rounds, it is an excellent home defense weapon that does not "overpenetrate", as ovepenetration can result in collateral damage (read: passing through target and hitting something or someone you don't want to). There is nothing sinister about the rifle, it is not a fully-automatic weapon, and that it is the subject of any type of proposed ban is ridiculous.
It is the stupid rotten evil rednecks in this country who vote for the no good Republicans that keep this country stupid. They still believe in their grandpappy's ignorant thinking. Let me tell you something, stupid rednecks, your grandpappies are burning in hell.
When you hate blacks but love guns, you belong in hell.
When you hate Mexicans but love guns, you belong in hell.
When you think marijuana that never killed anybody should be illegal but guns that kill millions of people should be legal, you belong in hell.
The vast majority of rednecks end up burning in hell.
somethin about throwing stones in glass houses
John... if you want to see stupid, look in the mirror
that isn't the nicest tone to take to get your point across but i can definitely see your angle. i do agree that marijuana poses no real harm, while others argue that guns do. some type of regulation at least needs to be attempted to be put in place. do i think it will change things? no. i for one certainly do not plan on getting rid of my firearm that i keep in my home to protect my family. but it isn't nice to say who is going to hell and to call folks stupid rednecks :(
Feel better? Try doing something to change people's minds instead of ranting.
"The president also laid out a series of 23 executive actions - free from a Congressional blockade --"
Fool do you not see the violation of LAW by this MAN
John Penn-2341008
AWWW are you Mad? Good, you deserve it. Enjoy.
They are executive actions, not executive orders. I read the list & it's pretty much a feel-good handjob.
Job1 - Obama and all the libs that follow him are the nutty ones!!!!! So brain washed by an arrogant, lying President who is a socialist and is taking the country in that direction.
You cant tell me that banning these guns or clips is going to keep the criminals from getting them anyway. Just another way for the government to waste more taxpayer money.
if the NRA wants to pony up for Secret Service agents at schools, im all for it..but if they arent, they need to shut up about this...there is a large difference between every day cops and Secret Service agents..and i dont hear them wanting to pony up to pay for the extra cops their plan would require either...so either way, this is a lose lose for the gun companies, i mean NRA...
Go gettem Mr President. I agree with some of the things you want, but the 2nd Amend will stay and guns are never going away. The U.S. is just too saturated with guns for these laws to have much, if any, results. But i am glad that he puts ideas out there and has the balls to say what he believes.
Waco, Ruby Ridge, Wounded Knee
Synonymous with: Obama, Gore, Reed, Pelosi, Biden
You just gotta love all the passion in the arguments from those who have no experience at all with firearms, and have no clue what it's like to lose a loved one (especially a child) to senseless violence! Politicians and those driven by emotion are looking in the wrong direction. Gun control laws will not help, they never have! The things being proposed currently would not have stopped any of the mass shootings of recent years, and they won't help in the future! The thing that will help the most: keep violent felons locked up for their entire sentence, no parole or early release. Overturning court decisions that prevent mentally ill persons from being treated against their will, might go a long way towards solving the problem also.