Obama unveils biggest gun-control package in decades

[Matt Murdock]

WASHINGTON — Braced for a fight, President Barack Obama on Wednesday unveiled the most sweeping proposals for curbing gun violence in two decades, pressing a reluctant Congress to pass universal background checks and bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines like the ones used in the Newtown, Conn., school shooting.

A month after that horrific massacre, Obama also used his presidential powers to enact 23 measures that don't require the backing of lawmakers. The president's executive actions include ordering federal agencies to make more data available for background checks, appointing a director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and directing the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence.

But the president, speaking at White House ceremony, focused his attention on the divided Congress, saying only lawmakers could enact the most effective measures for preventing more mass shootings.

"To make a real and lasting difference, Congress must act," Obama said. "And Congress must act soon."

The president vowed to use "whatever weight this office holds" to press lawmakers into action on his $500 million plan. He is also calling for improvements in school safety, including putting 1,000 police officers in schools and bolstering mental health care by training more health professionals to deal with young people who may be at risk.

The president's long list of executive orders also include:

— Ordering tougher penalties for people who lie on background checks and requiring federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.

— Ending limits that make it more difficult for the government to research gun violence, such as gathering data on guns that fall into criminal hands.

— Requiring federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.

— Giving schools flexibility to use federal grant money to improve school safety, such as by hiring school resource officers.

— Giving communities grants to institute programs to keep guns away from people who shouldn't have them.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130116/NEWS02/701169901

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323968304578245720749827656.html

[Mikal]

Still not enough.

[Batta]

Get idioticly-given weapons and destroy them.

You may say farmers need them. They let them have a rifle. But there are loads of people not having a reason to own one who actually have a weapon.

[SugarD]

You may say farmers need them. They let them have a rifle. But there are loads of people not having a reason to own one who actually have a weapon.

You can't really justify that for the average, mentally-sane person, though. What if they carry it for self-protection, or they hunt, or shoot for fun at ranges? Saying they can't have guns just because they own them and still follow the laws would just completely violate the Constitution. The overall idea is to keep the weapons out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them...not remove them altogether so no one has them at all.

Although I agree that Obama's plan may not be quite enough, it's definitely a good start in the right direction, as it aims to tackle the problem head-on without even coming close to violating the Second Amendment.

[Mikal]

You can't really justify that for the average, mentally-sane person, though. What if they carry it for self-protection, or they hunt, or shoot for fun at ranges? Saying they can't have guns just because they own them and still follow the laws would just completely violate the Constitution. The overall idea is to keep the weapons out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them...not remove them altogether so no one has them at all.

Although I agree that Obama's plan may not be quite enough, it's definitely a good start in the right direction, as it aims to tackle the problem head-on without even coming close to violating the Second Amendment.

If they shoot as a hobby, their guns should be kept locked at a shooting range, if they go hunting, (which not alot of city goers in the US do) their guns should be kept locked up well at home, if they don't do either, they don't need a gun.

[SugarD]

If they shoot as a hobby, their guns should be kept locked at a shooting range, if they go hunting, (which not alot of city goers in the US do) their guns should be kept locked up well at home, if they don't do either, they don't need a gun.

Both should be locked up at home since they own the gun, but I agree there. In fact, it is a federal law to properly store your weapons safely. The problem is that many people are lazy.

[Mikal]

Both should be locked up at home since they own the gun, but I agree there. In fact, it is a federal law to properly store your weapons safely. The problem is that many people are lazy.

And it's that lazyness that leads to guns being stolen and use for things the owner did not intend, in my area a man had a double barreled shotgun, it wasnt locked up properly and someone I know broke in and stole it then tried to convert it into a Sawnoff, he ended up completely ruining it, but it's pretty obvious it would have been used in more serious crimes as he stole it in the first place, the police caught him after he took pictures of himself and put them on facebook holding the stolen gun, he's now serving a 4 year jail sentence, go rozzers!

[EliteTerm]

If they shoot as a hobby, their guns should be kept locked at a shooting range, if they go hunting, (which not alot of city goers in the US do) their guns should be kept locked up well at home, if they don't do either, they don't need a gun.

The 2nd Amendment is not just about the right to shoot or hunt as a hobby, but to protect themselves from tyranny, including our own Government.

[SugarD]

And it's that lazyness that leads to guns being stolen and use for things the owner did not intend, in my area a man had a double barreled shotgun, it wasnt locked up properly and someone I know broke in and stole it then tried to convert it into a Sawnoff, he ended up completely ruining it, but it's pretty obvious it would have been used in more serious crimes as he stole it in the first place, the police caught him after he took pictures of himself and put them on facebook holding the stolen gun, he's now serving a 4 year jail sentence, go rozzers!

Then both the person you know, and the guy he stole it from, don't deserve to have a gun. :P

[Mikal]

Then both the person you know, and the guy he stole it from, don't deserve to have a gun. :P

Agreed.

The 2nd Amendment is not just about the right to shoot or hunt as a hobby, but to protect themselves from tyranny, including our own Government.

Do you trust your government if they say you can have the right to protect yourselves from even the government itself? :trust:

[EliteTerm]

Agreed.
Do you trust your government if they say you can have the right to protect yourselves from even the government itself? :trust:

The same government that ran Operation Fast & Furious while pressing for gun control?

The same government who has fully armed task force to protect their families while saying we do not need one?

The same government who can't control their budget that us, our children and grandchildren will have to pay off $17 Trillion Dollars in debt.

No, I do not trust the government who can't run a country and expect us to suck it up and move on

[Mikal]

The same government that ran Operation Fast & Furious while pressing for gun control?

The same government who has fully armed task force to protect their families while saying we do not need one?

The same government who can't control their budget that us, our children and grandchildren will have to pay off $17 Trillion Dollars in debt.

No, I do not trust the government who can't run a country and expect us to suck it up and move on

Then in that case, in my eyes, the US is doomed to civil war and will end up falling apart.

[SugarD]

Then in that case, in my eyes, the US is doomed to civil war and will end up falling apart.

I agree, and the rest of the world is not far off. The European Union is going through similar troubles, as are many countries around the world. If a large one like the US, EU, or UK falls, the world economy will completely collapse. It can't handle another major failure in the system at this point. I fear more than just civil war arising these days.

[Mikal]

I agree, and the rest of the world is not far off. The European Union is going through similar troubles, as are many countries around the world. If a large one like the US, EU, or UK falls, the world economy will completely collapse. It can't handle another major failure in the system at this point. I fear more than just civil war arising these days.

Honestly in my opinion, fuck the EU, the UK should pull out whilst it still can, the EU is nothing but problems and is costing so so many jobs in the UK, another 3 poor countries are set to join the EU this year, where do you think all of it's people will instantly head legally? The UK, this means not only is the UK being dwarfed with migrants it's creating less and less job oppertunitiess for British people. I for one would love a civil war in the UK over this exact thing, I know civil wars kill and are nothing to hope for, but it's the only way the UK will throw all these migrants back to where they came from, open jobs for British people and finally get rid of the shithole called the EU, I've been jobless for 2 years so yes I'm pissed, can't say I'm not trying hard enough either.

[Ness]

us delicacy : guns and burgers
us taboo : kinder surprise

welcome to usa

LOL