Obama calls for assault weapons ban, background checks. - Polidicks

[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 800, align: left"] [TR] [TD][TABLE="width: 640, align: center"] [TR] [TD][h2]President Obama unveils his plan to combat gun violence.[/h2][B]President Obama unveiled the most sweeping set of gun-control proposals in two decades on Wednesday, a package that includes universal background checks on all gun buyers and a renewed ban on assault weapons.[/B][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][QUOTE][IMG]http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/01/16/ap-obama_745-4_3_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81[/IMG][/QUOTE][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Obama proposed restricting ammunition magazines to no more than 10 rounds, as well as new programs devoted to school safety and mental health services. "This is our first task as a society -- keeping our children safe," Obama said after reading letters from children in the wake of last month's shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. "These are our kids," Obama said. NRA: Group attacks Obama in video The president and Vice President Biden — who developed the plan after a series of meetings with 229 groups involved in gun violence issues — appeared with the children who wrote letters to the White House expressing concern about gun violence. Also attending were family members of victims of the Dec. 14 attack that killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. "Our hearts go out to you," Biden said, saying he and Obama want to "honor the memory of your children." Obama said no law can "prevent every senseless act," but can be valuable if it can prevent one attack. "If there is even one life that can be saved, we've got an obligation to try it," the president. The White House issued a written plan with four goals: Keeping guns out of the wrong hands, getting "weapons of war" off the streets, upgrading school safety, and improving mental health services. It includes 23 executive orders that Obama plans to address immediately, without the need for approval by Congress. Among the specific proposals: • Keeping guns out of the wrong hands. The White House is proposing "universal background checks" designed to get at private gun sales that are not covered by the current system, which applies to federally licensed dealers. The plan also includes four executive orders designed to remove barriers to information sharing among state and federal agencies. • Restricting "weapons of war." Obama's plan calls for limiting ammunition magazines to no more than 10 rounds. The document notes that the Newtown killings and the July attack in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., involved the kinds of semi-automatic weapons that were targeted by the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004. The administration also wants to maintain the effort to ban armor-piercing bullets. The president is also proposing harsher punishments for gun trafficking between states, as well as federal money to help cities pay for more police officers. In addition, Obama nominated a new leader for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; his previous nominee has been held up for years. • School safety. The plan proposes money to help local school districts hire 1,000 new school resource officers and school counselors. • Mental health. The administration is proposing Project AWARE, which stands for Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education. It would be designed to reach some 750,00 people to identify mental illness early in young people and refer them for treatment. It adds up to the biggest government anti-gun violence program since 1994, when Congress passed an assault weapons ban that expired 10 years later. A year earlier, Congress approved the Brady Bill, requiring background checks on gun purchasers. Some of the proposed gun control legislation will face a tough time in Congress, especially in the Republican-run House. Even some Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., have questioned whether a new assault weapons can pass Congress. Reid, a gun rights supporter, told a Nevada television station over the weekend that, "in the Senate, we're going to do what we think can get through the House." Biden said he has no "illusions" about the political challenges, but the Newtown shooting has shaken the nation's conscience. "The world has changed," Biden said. The National Rifle Association, the nation's largest gun lobby, has vowed to fight the gun-control proposals. The NRA has proposed armed guards in all schools, and expanding databases to block gun purchases by people who have been declared mentally ill. Before Obama's event, the NRA released a video criticizing the president as an "elitist hypocrite" for opposing armed guards in every school even though his daughters receive Secret Service protection. Carney said Obama believes in Second Amendment rights to gun ownership, and knows that nearly all gun owners are law-abiding citizens. "He also has seen and believes that most gun owners support the idea of common-sense measures to prevent people who shouldn't have guns from getting them," Carney said.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][B]SOURCE: [/B] [URL]http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/01/16/obama-gun-violence-plan-assault-weapons-ban-background-checks/1837793/[/URL][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Check out His latest twitter posts: "This is our first task as a society: Keeping our children safe." —President Obama "If there's even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try." —President Obama "I'm calling on Congress to pass some very specific proposals right away." —President Obama on reducing gun violence "First, it's time for Congress to require a universal background check for anyone trying to buy a gun." —President Obama "Second: Congress should restore a ban on military-style assault weapons, and a 10-round limit for magazines." "Finally, Congress needs to help rather than hinder law enforcement as it does its job." "We should get tougher on people who buy guns with the express purpose of turning around and selling them to criminals." —President Obama President Obama: "Let me be absolutely clear: like most Americans, I believe the 2nd Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms." "The only way we can change is if the American people demand it." —President Obama "The most important changes we can make depend on congressional action. They need to bring these proposals up for a vote." "Along with our freedom to live our lives as we will comes an obligation to allow others to do the same." —President Obama "Let’s do the right thing for them, and for this country we love so much." —President Obama [URL]https://twitter.com/BarackObama[/URL] [editline]^_^[/editline] 6:45pm GMT [TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 800, align: left"] [TR] [TD][TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Our nation has suffered too much at the hands of dangerous people who use guns to commit horrific acts of violence. As President Obama said following the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, “We won’t be able to stop every violent act, but if there is even one thing that we can do to prevent any of these events, we have a deep obligation, all of us, to try.” Most gun owners are responsible and law-abiding, and they use their guns safely. The President strongly believes that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. But to better protect our children and our communities from tragic mass shootings like those in Newtown, Aurora, Oak Creek, and Tucson, there are common-sense steps we can take right now. While no law or set of laws will end gun violence, it is clear that the American people want action. If even one child’s life can be saved, then we need to act. Now is the time to do the right thing for our children, our communities, and the country we love. [B]Why Now[/B] Gunfire was probably the last thing U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her constituents expected to hear during their Saturday morning town hall meeting in a Tucson grocery store parking lot. But by the time the last shot rang out on January 8, 2011, six lay dead or dying and thirteen more were injured. Rep. Giffords, the gunman's target, was shot in the head. She survived, but faced a long and difficult journey to recovery. Among those who lost their lives were a nine-year-old girl, a federal judge, and one of Giffords’ staffers. Four days later, President Obama spoke at a memorial service for the Tucson shooting victims, urging us to engage in national conversation about the causes of this type of tragedy. “We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence. We should be willing to challenge old assumptions in order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future.” Just after midnight on July 20, 2012, a man walked into a packed movie theater in Aurora, Colorado and opened fire. He killed twelve people and wounded another 58. Days after the shooting there, President Obama traveled to Aurora to speak with survivors and meet with family members and loved ones of each of the victims. He heard from local leaders about the community’s resilience in the face of such shocking violence – violence that reminded the nation it could have been any of us in that theater, or any of us mourning the loss of a friend or family member. President Obama also reminded us that even in the darkest of days, the extraordinary courage and strength of the American people shines through. He told the remarkable story of two young women he met who survived the shooting. After Allie was shot in the neck, her best friend Stephanie stayed beside her and kept pressure on the wound, even as bullets whizzed overhead. When they stopped, Stephanie helped carry Allie outside to the safety of a waiting ambulance, two parking lots away. But just a few weeks later, another American community faced the unimaginable grief that cities like Tucson and Aurora knew too well. In Oak Creek, Wisconsin, a shooting in a Sikh temple left six people dead and four more wounded. Despite witnessing these tragedies again and again and again, nothing could have steeled the nation for what would happen in Newtown, Connecticut. On December 14, 2012, the day had just begun at Sandy Hook Elementary when a man broke into the school and started shooting. Within minutes, twenty of Sandy Hook’s first graders – 6 and 7 year olds – were killed in their classrooms. The school’s principal and psychologist were among the six staff members who died trying to protect the children in their care. That afternoon, the President spoke emotionally about the day’s events from the White House. At a prayer vigil in Newtown two days later, President Obama said we couldn’t tolerate this kind of tragedy anymore. The time had come to take meaningful action to reduce gun violence in America. “If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that -- then surely we have an obligation to try.” [B]Working Together[/B] Five days after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, President Obama announced that Vice President Biden would lead an effort to develop a set of concrete policy proposals for reducing gun violence, due no later than January. “This is not some Washington commission. This is not something where folks are going to be studying the issue for six months and publishing a report that gets read and then pushed aside. This is a team that has a very specific task, to pull together real reforms right now.” Keeping with President Obama’s commitment to engage the American people in the process, the Vice President solicited input from citizens and organizations with a wide range of concerns, perspectives, and opinions while preparing his recommendations. From victims’ advocates to educators, elected leaders to sports and wildlife conservationists, he spoke with many groups about their ideas on curbing gun violence in the United States. In addition to the Vice President’s meetings and discussions here in Washington, people from around the country joined the conversation about preventing gun violence by signing We the People petitions on the White House web site. As part of the official response to those petitions, President Obama recorded a special message for the more than 350,000 people who signed them, explaining that his efforts would only be successful with the continued help of Americans who stand up and speak out. “That is how change happens. Because of committed Americans who work to make it happen. Because of you. You have started something and now I am asking you to keep at it. I am asking for your help to make a real, meaningful difference in the lives of our communities and our country.” To keep the conversation going, Bruce Reed, the Vice President’s chief of staff, invited petition signers to join him on a conference call about the ongoing work at the White House. As domestic policy advisor in the Clinton White House, Reed worked closely with then-Senator Joe Biden to pass the 1994 Crime Bill that helped law enforcement bring down the rate of violent crime in America, and is deeply involved in developing the latest set of proposals. [quote] [B]The President's Plan to Reduce Gun Violence[/B] On January 15, 2013, Vice President Biden delivered his policy proposals to President Obama. The package of recommendations, released publicly January 16, 2013, details ways we can help keep guns out of the wrong hands, make our schools safer, and increase access to mental health services. ===================================================================== [quote][B]Require background checks for all gun sales[/B] The single most important thing we can do to prevent gun violence and mass shootings is to make sure those who would commit acts of violence cannot get access to guns. Right now, federally licensed firearms dealers are required to run background checks on those buying guns, but studies estimate that nearly 40 percent of all gun sales are made by private sellers who are exempt from this requirement. A national survey of inmates found that only 12 percent of those who used a handgun in a crime acquired it from a retail store or pawn shop, where a background check should have been run. Congress should pass legislation that goes beyond closing the “gun show loophole” to require background checks for all firearm sales, with limited, common-sense exceptions for cases like certain transfers between family members and temporary transfers for hunting and sporting purposes.[/quote] [quote][B]Strengthen the background check system for gun sales[/B] The background check system is highly efficient and effective; during its 14 years in existence, the system has helped keep more than 1.5 million guns out of the wrong hands. But we must do a better job ensuring the background check system has access to complete data about potentially dangerous individuals. For example, although the number of mental health records available to the system has increased by 800 percent since 2004, a recent report by the Government Accountability Office found that there are still 17 states that have made fewer than 10 mental health records available to the background check system. We need to make sure states and federal agencies are making available reliable information on those prohibited from having guns to the background check system.[/quote] [quote][B]Pass a new, stronger ban on assault weapons[/B] Assault rifles have been used in several recent mass shootings. The shooters in Aurora and Newtown used the type of semiautomatic rifles that were the target of the assault weapons ban that was in place from 1994 to 2004. That ban was an important step, but manufacturers were able to circumvent the prohibition with cosmetic modifications to their weapons. Congress must reinstate and strengthen the prohibition on assault weapons.[/quote] [quote][B]Limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds[/B] The case for prohibiting high-capacity magazines has been proven over and over; the shooters at Virginia Tech, Tucson, Aurora, Oak Creek, and Newtown all used magazines holding more than 10 rounds, which would have been prohibited under the 1994 law. These magazines enable any semiautomatic weapon to be used as an instrument of mass violence, yet they are once again legal and now come standard with many handguns and rifles. Congress needs to reinstate the prohibition on magazines holding more than 10 rounds.[/quote] [quote][B]Finish the job of getting armor-piercing bullets off the streets[/B] It is already illegal to manufacture and import armor-piercing ammunition except for military or law enforcement use. But it is generally still not illegal to possess or transfer this dangerous ammunition. Congress should finish the job of protecting law enforcement and the public by banning the possession of armor-piercing ammunition by, and its transfer to, anyone other than the military and law enforcement.[/quote] [quote][B]Give law enforcement additional tools to prevent and prosecute gun crime[/B] In order to prevent and respond to gun violence, we must give law enforcement every tool they need to keep us safe. That includes passing stronger laws to stop those who would put guns into the hands of criminals, keeping 15,000 cops on the street, and eliminating restrictions that keep federal law enforcement from doing its job.[/quote] [quote][B]End the freeze on gun violence research[/B] There are approximately 30,000 firearm-related homicides and suicides a year, a number large enough to make clear this is a public health crisis. But for years, the Centers for Disease Control and other scientific agencies have been barred by Congress from using funds to “advocate or promote gun control,” and some members of Congress have claimed this prohibition also bans the CDC from conducting any research on the causes of gun violence. However, research on gun violence is not advocacy. The President is directing the CDC and other research agencies to conduct research into the causes and prevention of gun violence, and the CDC is announcing that they will begin this research.[/quote] [quote][B]Make our schools safer with new resource officers and counselors, better emergency response plans, and more nurturing school climates[/B] The Administration is calling on Congress to help schools hire up to 1,000 more school resource officers, school psychologists, social workers, and counselors, as well as make other investments in school safety. We also need to make sure every school has a comprehensive emergency management plan so they are prepared to respond to situations like mass shootings. In addition, the Administration is proposing to help 8,000 schools put in place proven strategies to prevent violence and improve school climate by reducing bullying, drug abuse, violence, and other problem behaviors.[/quote] [quote][B]Ensure quality coverage of mental health treatment, particularly for young people[/B] Though the vast majority of Americans with a mental illness are not violent, we need to do more to identify mental health issues early and help individuals get the treatment they need before dangerous situations develop. As President Obama has said, “We are going to need to work on making access to mental health care as easy as access to a gun.” The Administration is proposing steps to identify mental health issues early and help individuals get the treatment they need before these dangerous situations develop.[/quote] No single law – or even set of laws – can prevent every act of violence in our country. But the fact that this problem is complex can not be an excuse for inaction.[/quote][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][B]SOURCE: [/B] [URL]http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/preventing-gun-violence[/URL][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Ow my second admendment

Fuck off, Obama. Unless you got stats and numbers, don't dance on the graves! [B]Edit: [media][/B][url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ju4Gla2odw[/url][/media]

At least Piers Morgan will finally shut the fuck up.

I'm fine with background checks but the AWB didn't work before. Making it stricter won't make it work. Actually, most of this seems to be a pretty good idea, with the mental health help and school safety. But the semi-auto rifle restriction is idiotic and won't help at all.

For fuck saike

What were you all using the fucking machine guns for anyway. At least you still get handguns.

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;39242077]Fuck off, Obama. Unless you got stats and numbers, don't dance on the graves![/QUOTE] so background checks are... bad?

[QUOTE=Hellborg 65;39242110]What were you all using the fucking machine guns for anyway. At least you still get handguns.[/QUOTE] The point is if the government goes tyrannical, which has happened before in other countries, we can fight back. That's one of the reasons that the second amendment was made for.

[QUOTE=Hellborg 65;39242110]What were you all using the fucking machine guns for anyway. At least you still get handguns.[/QUOTE] You mean the same machine guns that are currently still very hard and very expensive to get right

[QUOTE=Hellborg 65;39242110]What were you all using the fucking machine guns for anyway. At least you still get handguns.[/QUOTE] "Machine guns" are already banned you fucking idiot. This bill is banning semi-automatic rifles that look different from other semi-automatic rifles. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Flaming, again" - Craptasket))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=areolop;39242115]so background checks are... bad?[/QUOTE] Background checks are fine, but the 'assault weapons' only account for 0.85% of the overall murder rate in the United States, with rifles coming in at 2.0% - 3.0%.

Honestly the only thing I stand completely against is the "assault weapon/weapon of war" ban because it's fucking stupid. They are [i]not[/i] "assault weapons," they are not being used for warfare, they are almost never used in crime, and banning them before didn't give the desired result of eliminating gun violence. Obama talks about common sense, but this is anything but. We've done everything we can without stepping into the grey area of violating the 2nd Amendment and there's no good reason to start now. On the other hand, I'm very pleased he's addressing the issue of mental health. I'm not sure if his project will be enough, but it seems like it'll at least help.

WOOOO FEELGOOD BILLS! CANT WAIT FOR ANOTHER AWB If he actually gave a shit or actually read into the issue he'd see that AWB's do fuck all and handguns are more of an issue.

[QUOTE=Tacosheller;39242127]"Machine guns" are already banned you fucking idiot. This bill is banning semi-automatic rifles that look different from other semi-automatic rifles.[/QUOTE] Except that's not what's going into affect without congressional approval.. do you pay attention or do you just spew shit?

Did obama seriously mention that one of the executive orders will spend MY tax money on studying whether or not violent video games make people go and kill people IRL? Yup, [url=http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/16/obama-congress-should-fund-research-into-the-effects-violent-video-games-have-on-young-minds/]that's what he said.[/url] Fuck these "feelgood" bills. Demonizing gun owners wasn't enough, now he has to go and demonize gamers?

Impeach this Nigerian scam of a President and demand he presents a birth certificate!!1

[QUOTE=Hellborg 65;39242110]What were you all using the fucking machine guns for anyway. At least you still get handguns.[/QUOTE] Oh look a prime example of someone trying supporting a ban on something they know fuck-all about.

[QUOTE=Ponder;39242153]Except that's not what's going into affect without congressional approval.. do you pay attention or do you just spew shit?[/QUOTE] an AWB will be introduced into congress. Thankfully he's not going to try and pass it with an executive order, but another AWB is still 'tarded.

Things the last AWB solved:

Guys he implementing mental health laws too, I can't disagree with all of it entirely. But yes "assault weapons" is still argueable with gun statistics.

let the tyranny begin!

[QUOTE=lolo;39242165]Guys he implementing mental health laws too, this isn't really bad at all.[/QUOTE] I'll wait to judge until we see a full list of his executive order.

we had a shot at winning back the house had

[QUOTE=lolo;39242165]Guys he implementing mental health laws too, this isn't really bad at all.[/QUOTE] No, it's bad. The bans on assault weapons will solve nothing, but will instead take people's property away for no real reason.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;39242162]an AWB will be introduced into congress. Thankfully he's not going to try and pass it with an executive order, but another AWB is still 'tarded.[/QUOTE] which will most likely fail to pass anyway, so now we have better background checks (no more gun show loopholes), better school funding to security (if they want it), and more options to those to find new ways to prevent gun violence, etc OoOOoOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooo!!!!

Where does it say that he'll ban "assault weapons".

[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;39242182]No, it's bad. The bans on assault weapons will solve nothing, but will instead take people's property away for no real reason.[/QUOTE] this didn't go into effect please pay attention

[QUOTE=TheSporeGA;39242117]The point is if the government goes tyrannical, which has happened before in other countries, we can fight back. That's one of the reasons that the second amendment was made for.[/QUOTE] This argument is absurd. Yes, if you didn't have guns and all tried to rebel against the government you would probably lose, but if you [I]did[/I] have guns you would still almost certainly lose.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;39242146]WOOOO FEELGOOD BILLS! CANT WAIT FOR ANOTHER AWB If he actually gave a shit or actually read into the issue he'd see that AWB's do fuck all and handguns are more of an issue.[/QUOTE] I'm glad you chose to ignore all the other parts of the proposal and look at one region where you can ignore numbers