Obama Gun Proposal: Background Checks for All Gun Purchases
President Obama spoke to the nation this morning about his proposal to reduce gun violence; recommends background check for all gun purchases, assault weapons ban.
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President Obama spoke to the nation this morning and presented a proposal to reduce gun violence.
Click here to view video of the president's proposal, or click on the video accompanying this article.
"I will put everything I've got into this and so will Joe [Biden]," Obama said in his closing remarks today.
Of particular note in his proposal, Obama called for the following:
- Reinstate lapsed ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines.
- Requiring background checks on all gun purchases.
- Ban armor piercing ammunition.
- Called on Congress to confirm a new director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
- Improve access to mental health services and provide information to mental health professionals who want to report threats of violence.
- Provide incentives for schools to hire resource officers, should they choose to, to step up school security.
Did you see the president's address this morning? Tell us what you thought in comments below. Do Obama's recommendations seem like a common sense approach to you, or are you concerned about the rights of gun owners?
Oswego Resident
8:17 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
They seem like reasonable measures to address several areas and they make perfect sense to me. No one's going to lose any firepower or ability to protect their home and loved ones.
Kevin Thompson
9:53 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I would hope that Congress thinks of the public first and understands that these new proposals do not take away any rights
John
8:42 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
These proposals are mostly window dressing. They are the equivalent to running quickly in place: furious action without any movement.
One of them, calling on Congress to confirm a new ATF Director, is actually Obama directing Obama to nominate someone! He hasn't nominated anyone in years so Congress has nobody to confirm.
In fact, most of these are not even in the jurisdiction of the Federal government. These are all States rights and responsibilities issues. It's another example of the Fed trying to have more control over State issues.
Nancy
10:22 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Gives him another reason to whip out that ink pen he so eagerly wants to use. 2.5 million die yearly due to alcohol related illnesses, 200,000 die a year due to drug use. Let's get real. You want to make a difference????? This is your chance, save millions a year from being taken by substance abuse and mental illness too! If only one gets saved that's enough. All you 2nd amendment protesters.....you can make a real difference instead of watching this circus act cost tax payer money.
Logansdad
4:48 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I am all for the new proposals. No one is taking away your rights. You can still own a gun. You just can own one that fires rounds and rounds at a time. Just like with freedom of speach - not all speach is free.
Logansdad
4:50 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
When was the last time someone walked into a crowded public building and killed 10+ people with alcohol or drugs? Guns have one purpose - to kill.
oswegoannie
4:38 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Nothing wrong with a universal background check - it may help keep weapons out of the hands of lunatics if mental health records are made available.
Lars
4:52 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I spell speech with two e's.....not speach. Get what you pay for right LD?
MikeK
12:25 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
We need a background check to own a weapon that is our right... But he does not need a background check to be the leader of our country??
Does anyone see a problem here?