President Barack Obama reveals 23 steps to reduce gun violence

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
1/17/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Among measures is call to reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004

U.S. President Barack Obama has called for background checks on all gun sales and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The proposals are in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre that saw the senseless killings of 20 schoolchildren and six adults by a lone gunman last month.

With relatives of the slain children of Sandy Hook Elementary School looking on, Obama signed 23 executive actions that don't require congressional approval.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - With relatives of the slain children looking on, Obama signed 23 executive actions that don't require congressional approval. The president says the measures will strengthen background checks and expand safety programs in schools.

Obama also called on Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, to restrict ammunition magazines to no more than 10 rounds and to require a background check on anyone buying a gun. This will be across the board, and include anyone who buys a weapon at a store or in a private sale at an auction or convention.

Obama says that the U.S. must do a better job of protecting its children, especially when they are in public places such as schools, shopping malls and movie theaters.

Some of the proposals are given little chance of winning congressional approval in the face of the nation's powerful gun lobby. The president insists that all efforts must be made to reduce gun violence in America.

"This is our first task as a society -- keeping our children safe," the president said, adding that saving even one life would make the changes he seeks worth the effort.

The 23 executive actions the president is taking:

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.

2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.

3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.

4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.

5. Propose rule making to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.

6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.

7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.

8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.

10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.

11. Nominate an ATF director.

12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.

13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.

14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.

15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.

16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.

17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.

18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.

19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.

20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.

21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.

22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.

23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Gun control, executive order, Preisdent Obama, ATF, background checks

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1 - 10 of 20 Comments

Lisa
3 months ago
Starzec -

I am no fan of guns but do have to agree with the majority of folks here that gun control laws have had no measurable effect on curbing gun violence. The 2nd amendment addresses the right to bear arms against a tyrannical government (what the framers intended and it is appropriate that citizens continue to actively defend it) and, therefore, should not fall under property that can be regulated by government.

Father James -

Thank you for your courage in weighing in and, as you rightly point out, this is a highly-charged political debate. I think that we all want to stop tragedies like this from happening and we all want to stop growing violence in our culture. The most positive aspect of these posts is that we have achieved common ground there. I believe where we differ is on what will be effective.

I believe that is at the heart of why many of us question the president's motives (hence comments about his inconsistency on abortion) since this proposed legislation appears very targeted at gun owners. If Obama was truly interested in broadly addressing gun violence, where is the language about regulating the online gaming industry that actively promotes gratuitous violence? What about addressing violence in movies?

I think we all saying that something needs to be done and we feel a sense of urgency. I am skeptical that we are having the right discussion at the White House.
vance
3 months ago
Starzec, We have a 2nd Amendment to defend ourselves against lawless thugs who are invading homes and killing the residence on a daily basis. We have a 2nd Amendment to defend ourselves against government thugs like Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, and every other Marxist who are only too glad to put their boot heel on our necks with our hands and feet "In Chains" Sound familiar to you?? We DO NOT have a 2nd Amendment to hunt ducks. The only reason we have a free society is that we have an armed citizenry. Take awhile and think about it.
starzec
3 months ago
Thank you Father James for your insight.

Toni, if was meant to be an absolute right, the phrases "A well regulated Militia" and "being necessary to the security of a free State" would not be a part of the 2nd Amendment. Take a look at the document and the Bill of Rights specifically. First Amendment reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This is fairly specific. Third Amendment "No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law." Again, very specific. Fourth Amendment "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized". Very specific again.
So please tell us why you and others focus on only the "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" portion of the 2nd Amendment. The Well regulated militia is equally important. Furthermore, even taken in the context that the NRA and other gun nuts read it, people does not ever mean one person.
The right to keep firearms would fall under property clause of the 4th Amendment. And since SCOTUS has routinely ruled that property can be regulated, firearm rules are well within the purview the government.

I do wish to pose one question to Catholic Online and its readers: If the Pope where to say you cannot be Catholic and own firearms, what would be your reaction?
Gabriel
3 months ago
Hey Adam how is England any example of safety?You are the most violent european country,people are killed with knifes in your land,also don't come saying wake up America,you need to wake up from lies,England is far worse than America,for a small country compared to one with 300.000 people.The mere revolts that happened not long ago show how safe it is to live in England.
Toni
3 months ago
None of these 23 items will reduce crime, protect anyone, or do anything useful.
Gun control is not even about crime, because none of the "remedies" recommended are ever directed at actual criminals. Remember, these same gun control types tell us we should "understand" terrorists and criminals. Yet they are harsh on the vast majority of law-abiding gun owners who never do anything worse than punch holes in paper at a distance with their firearms. As for the claim they are not "coming for your guns," how else can you describe a call to ban semi-automatics and calls in certain circles for "confiscation," as in New York.

If you believe the Constitution is outmoded and should be erased because the founders could not imagine a thing existing, try applying that to the rest of your life. Should your free speech be eradicated because the founders could not imagine anything beyond quill pens and movable type? Should your freedom to exercise religion be excised because the founders could not imagine services being held in a modern "green building" with actual electricity? Should your right to not incriminate yourself be wiped away because the founders could not imagine polygraph machines and DNA typing? If you buy the argument, this is what you are setting yourself up for... other false arguments that will erode freedom.

This is about a civil right.

These people have shown they have no respect for life in the womb, are starting to show they have no respect for life in old age and infirmity, and yet are demanding they trust them when they say "disarm" for the good of the children. These are the people who invented a right in the Constitution that has allowed them to kill 55 million babies, now they would wipe out a thing actually in the Bill of Rights that people use to defend their children from criminals.

Take heed, they are not to be trusted with your rights and freedoms.
ebenezer
3 months ago
The notion that it's 23 points to his faith in Psalm 23 , beleive this is a first step, it should be more of a spiritual act for the President as not only Gun control but a sense of faith can also be restored at this juncture in American History
james
3 months ago
Step 1,.....Reinstate God back into our schools!
Our society has placed all the burdens of life on their shoulders, especially our youth. Our society/Goverment has lost all confidence in our Lord to take care of us. All our Lord asks is to surrender to him,..in submission to our Lord, we will find everlasting happiness!
Man has decided that he can handle all burdens of his life,..Man has decided that he is in control of his own destiny...
A Goverment/society without God becomes lost and confused,
Please pray daily for our country and for those who suffer the consequences for our lack of faith and trust in God.
DLL
3 months ago
I think gun dealers must be educated enough to be able to detect a pattern that indicates that in the way someone is making their purchases that they could be contemplating some form of terrorism. Anyone under suspicion should be reported to local authorities for the investigation of the matter. Gun purchasers should be willing to provide a home and work address and associated phone numbers. If there is any discrepancy in any of this information they may not purchase any weapons,even a hunting knife.
Rob
3 months ago
None of the "gun control" measures will pass the house. Background checks should have been stronger and streamlined all along.

But in the end, this won't stop another mass shooting. Too many guns in circulation to really control anything. And like the last assualt weapons ban, they will leave so many loopholes in it, that it won't be worth the paper they printed it on. This is just the government trying to do something, unfortunately, like all the hysteria at our airports, just doens't respond appropriately. 911 hijackers didn't use bombs but yet we spent billions on bomb technology (before the shoe bomber incident). This is no different.

A society that glorifies violence to the degree we do will just have to learn to live with these things. Just another fruit of the culture of death.
Andy Smith
3 months ago
In 2009, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 66.9% of all homicides in the United States were perpetrated using a firearm. There were 52,447 deliberate and 23,237 accidental non-fatal gunshot injuries in the United States.
We do not have freely available guns in the UK and had a reported 14 deaths last year by firearms.

Wake up america, guns do equal safety. Stop bleeting on about some constitutional right that was passed during a different time. Outside the US everyone just looks on with amazement at how short sighted you are.

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