President Obama Announces New Measures to Prevent Gun Violence
President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, signs executive orders initiating 23 separate executive actions, after delivering remarks to unveil new gun control proposals as part of the Administration’s response to the Newtown, Conn. shootings, and other tragedies, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Jan. 16, 2013. Joining them on stage are children from around the country who wrote the President letters in the wake of the Newtown tragedy expressing their concerns about gun violence and school safety, and their parents. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
President Obama today announced a series of sweeping reforms that will help curb gun violence in our nation.
In front of a crowd that included victims of gun violence, families who lost loved ones to gun violence, elected officials, and school children who had written letters asking him to do something to prevent more senseless massacres like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the President introduced a comprehensive proposal that will make it easier to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and will give law enforcement, schools, mental health professionals, and the public health community the tools they need to help reduce gun violence, and keep our children safe.
“This is our first task as a society,” the President said. “This is how we will be judged. And their voices should compel us to change.”
These actions are the result of the effort led by Vice President Joe Biden and members of the Cabinet to come up with concrete steps that we can take right now to keep our children safe, help prevent mass shootings, and reduce the broader epidemic of gun violence in this country.
The President acknowledged that implementing some of these changes will be difficult, but vowed to make it a priority: “I intend to use whatever weight this office holds to make them a reality. Because while there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence -- if even one life can be saved -- we have an obligation to try.”
While President Obama will sign 23 Executive Actions today that will help keep our kids safe, he was clear that he cannot and should not act alone: The most important changes depend on Congressional action. The President is calling on lawmakers to pass some specific proposals, including the elimination of all loopholes and require a universal background check on anyone trying to buy a gun, restoring the ban on military-style assault weapons and a 10-round limit for magazines, and creating tougher penalties on people who buy guns with the express purpose of reselling them to criminals.
President Obama also affirmed his belief that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms, and stressed that, like most Americans, he believes that we all have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to ensure guns are used safely:
" I also believe most gun owners agree that we can respect the Second Amendment while keeping an irresponsible, law-breaking few from inflicting harm on a massive scale. I believe most of them agree that if America worked harder to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, there would be fewer atrocities like the one that occurred in Newtown. That’s what these reforms are designed to do. They’re common-sense measures. They have the support of the majority of the American people."
I'm just the messenger...if you have a problem with the numbers you'll have to go elsewhere...bottom line is that we have an administration that apparently doesn't care ... Read More
I'm just the messenger...if you have a problem with the numbers you'll have to go elsewhere...bottom line is that we have an administration that apparently doesn't care to control spending...he's mostly concerned about raising taxes.
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 22 at 6:59am
4th...At the end of Clinton presidency, the per capita
amount of the National Debt was $20,067.00. At the end
of the Bush presidency, the per capita debt has increased
to ... Read More
4th...At the end of Clinton presidency, the per capita
amount of the National Debt was $20,067.00. At the end
of the Bush presidency, the per capita debt has increased
to $35,153.00 or about $15,000.00. As of 31 December
2012, the per capita debt was $52,152.00 for a $17,000.00
per capita increase for Obama's first term. In all cases
the increase is debt is larger because of the population
increase. Of course, some of that increase could be
offset by inflation when considering actual dollar
value.
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 22 at 3:45am
Well, actually the numbers may be right...it didn't exactly say anything about the TOTAL debt only that O has added $50000/household in debt which is more than all the previous ... Read More
Well, actually the numbers may be right...it didn't exactly say anything about the TOTAL debt only that O has added $50000/household in debt which is more than all the previous presidents combined. one would have to know a lot more information like how much was the total debt for each prsident and how many households were in existence at the time...that would take a lot of computing and time to compute.
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 21 at 6:00pm
Yeah, I have heard that too, but knowing the figures,
I just discounted that as one more talking head trying
to make a point by inflating numbers. Sorta like the
homeless ... Read More
Yeah, I have heard that too, but knowing the figures,
I just discounted that as one more talking head trying
to make a point by inflating numbers. Sorta like the
homeless advocates. Both sides of the spectrum are
guilty of this tactic.
4 th Generation Texan Sutherland Springs January 21 at 5:54pm
4th.....Aren't you inflating a bit when you state that
Obama has increased the debt more than all the presidents
before him combined. I think that the debt was 5.7
trillion ... Read More
4th.....Aren't you inflating a bit when you state that
Obama has increased the debt more than all the presidents
before him combined. I think that the debt was 5.7
trillion when Bush entered office and 10.7 trillion
when he left office. To accomplish what you claim,
the debt would have to be 21.4 trillion. He might
well accomplish but I don't think it's true yet.
Of course, the debt would have to be higher if you
took inflation into consideration.
4 th Generation Texan Sutherland Springs January 21 at 3:11pm
This should be a day of hope and looking forward, but all I feel is
After 4 years, the unemployment rate is exactly the same as the first daay of O's inaugural, $50000 ... Read More
This should be a day of hope and looking forward, but all I feel is
After 4 years, the unemployment rate is exactly the same as the first daay of O's inaugural, $50000 per household in debt has been added (greater than ALL the previous 42 presidents combined), gasoline is almost $2/gal higher, there is more than 8 million less people employed.
Why are the American people doing this to themselves?
4 th Generation Texan Sutherland Springs January 21 at 8:46am
O threw his Grandmother under the bus! He also threw his long time "mentor" Rev Wright under the bus. I suspect MLK would have very little in common with O. ... Read More
O threw his Grandmother under the bus! He also threw his long time "mentor" Rev Wright under the bus. I suspect MLK would have very little in common with O. Never heard O mention anything about MLK unless he was using it in a political way to advance his career. MLS would not throw Israel under the bus. MLK would not have dissed good citizens the way O has. In other words, MLS was a devout patiot with strong principles... see none of that in O.
4 th Generation Texan Sutherland Springs January 21 at 8:41am
Cesar Chavez, Never! He wasn't a patriot, he wss a far left wing liberal Communist. And, EVERYONE knows Pancho Villa wasn't American. You missed ... Read More
Cesar Chavez, Never! He wasn't a patriot, he wss a far left wing liberal Communist. And, EVERYONE knows Pancho Villa wasn't American. You missed the whole point, DUH!
Well, today a lot of persons who voted for Obama will
honor the memory of MLK. As you remember Dr King, ask
yourself if the Reverend would have been allowed to
speak at ... Read More
Well, today a lot of persons who voted for Obama will
honor the memory of MLK. As you remember Dr King, ask
yourself if the Reverend would have been allowed to
speak at the Obama activities taking place in our
nation's capital today. Or would he have suffered the
same fate as another black preacher who once condemned
homosexuality as being sinful. Are you having second
thoughts about the future of our country ?
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 21 at 6:11am
What I think is that the black community for the last 50 years has been given special treatment and it has been worthless and they've not been able to take advantage of ... Read More
What I think is that the black community for the last 50 years has been given special treatment and it has been worthless and they've not been able to take advantage of the advantages afforded them. yet, they still blame honkys for all their problems even though it has been honkys that bent over backwards for a half century to accomodate them and give assistance. It appears that there is an inheritant lack of responsibility, drive, and social responsibility to change their situation. When given a little power, they abuse it. When caught doing misdeeds it's Honkey's racism that is the problem. when you disagee with them, it is not cause you disagree with their philosophy, you disagree cause Honey is a rasist. when a black person kills a white person, it is merely a crime. When a white person kills a black guy it is racism and a hate crime. It is a terrible thing to waste a black mind, but no one mentions the waste of a white mind. We have black history month, but no white history month. We have Black colleges, but white colleges are racist and illegal. Talking about your 'black' mustang is racist. Mentioning stormy black clouds is racist. Trying to describe someone is racist if they are Negroid and you say black anywhere in the description. Blacks commit the most crimes and it just has to be racist cause there is a disproportionate number of blacks arrested for crime. it certainly couldnt't be cause they are more disposed to commit crimes. But, then again, that is probably Honkeys fault too.
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 20 at 10:28am
ALVIN.....4TH thinks that only white people are
never afforded special treatment. In a survey
of SAT scores before the 2400 era, Asians were
admitted with scores of ... Read More
ALVIN.....4TH thinks that only white people are
never afforded special treatment. In a survey
of SAT scores before the 2400 era, Asians were
admitted with scores of 1550 out of a possible
1600 at the same rate as whites with a score of
1410 and blacks with a score of 1100. When the
university at Berkley abolished race admissions,
the Asian population on campus rose to 40 percent.
It's the same story about whose ox is being gored.
4 th Generation Texan Sutherland Springs January 20 at 10:01am
The new "Masterchef" is Christiae who is a tiny oriental lady from Houston. Oh by the way, she is "blind". I have seen many young strappling black ... Read More
The new "Masterchef" is Christiae who is a tiny oriental lady from Houston. Oh by the way, she is "blind". I have seen many young strappling black men hanging on their porch drinking beer in the mid afternoon. Contrast the two, and that is pretty much a summary of the situation in the Black Community.
Update.......I just read the complete article about
the pink toy bubble gun...The child in kindergarten
was suspended 10 days just for talking about it with
a friend at ... Read More
Update.......I just read the complete article about
the pink toy bubble gun...The child in kindergarten
was suspended 10 days just for talking about it with
a friend at a bus stop. Something "I'll shoot you and
then you can shoot me," Like the fruitcake lady was
fond of saying "GOD ALMIGHTY !"
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 20 at 6:51am
Arming school personnel. After reading some stories
about students being expelled for the use of finger
and thumb fake guns, I am not sure that these
people are stable ... Read More
Arming school personnel. After reading some stories
about students being expelled for the use of finger
and thumb fake guns, I am not sure that these
people are stable enough to be trusted around my
great grandchildren with a weapon. Beware of what
you ask for. Accusing a child of making a terrorist
threat by the use of a finger or a pink toy bubble
(which I read about this morning) is certainly not
a reflection of the ability to make life and death
decisions. If they are that paranoid, a child with
a stick may be considered a threat to the school.
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 20 at 6:46am
Arming school personnel. After reading some stories
about students being expelled for the use of finger
and thumb fake guns, I am not sure that these
people are stable ... Read More
Arming school personnel. After reading some stories
about students being expelled for the use of finger
and thumb fake guns, I am not sure that these
people are stable enough to be trusted around my
great grandchildren with a weapon. Beware of what
you ask for.
"I am for doing good to the poor, but..I think the
best way of doing good to the poor, is not making
them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them
out of it. ... Read More
"I am for doing good to the poor, but..I think the
best way of doing good to the poor, is not making
them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them
out of it. I observed...that the more public
provisions were made for the poor, the less they
provided for themselves, and of course became poorer.
And on the contrary, the less was done, the more they
did for themselves, and became richer."
Benjamin Franklin
The second amendment insured that my dad
had the means to provide food for his family.
4 th Generation Texan Sutherland Springs January 19 at 12:26pm
Poor to me was: Having only 1 family car that was 15 years old, 1 or 2 pair of jeans and a couple of cotton shirts, no air conditioning (fireplace or coil oil heater). ... Read More
Poor to me was: Having only 1 family car that was 15 years old, 1 or 2 pair of jeans and a couple of cotton shirts, no air conditioning (fireplace or coil oil heater). Bananas and apples were a luxury only gotten on special occasions. Allowance...what was that? An old wringer/tub washing machine, outhouse and beans/potatoes/cornbread 3 or 4 times per week. We only had milk cause we either had a cow or we went to a close by dairy farm and bought raw milk. Dentist/doctors...first time I went to a dentist I was 20 years old. And doctors were something you went to when you saw buzzards look at you and start whispering to each other. The previous is what a poor folk looked like from my front porch.
Prairie i dont have a clue what being poor means anymore. People i know who dont work seem to have a lot more stuff then me. Your safety net analogy is true. We need to pull ... Read More
Prairie i dont have a clue what being poor means anymore. People i know who dont work seem to have a lot more stuff then me. Your safety net analogy is true. We need to pull the plug on welfare - period. Get people off the dole.
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 19 at 11:30am
Yeah 4th, when they preach diversity, I always reply
that I have nothing against diversity, I just don't
like diverse results. At one time in this country,
being very ... Read More
Yeah 4th, when they preach diversity, I always reply
that I have nothing against diversity, I just don't
like diverse results. At one time in this country,
being very poor often served as an incentive to improve
one's lot in life. Now, they have many so called
safety nets, which makes staying poor easier. Of
course, what they call poor these days would have
been seen as being well off during my youth. The
only thing that we exchanged on Christmas morning
was a glance. :)
4 th Generation Texan Sutherland Springs January 19 at 8:46am
Strangely enough, I use to be very sympathetic to the black community. Then Lyndon Johnson passed his legislation in 1965 and all of a sudden blacks were being actively recruited ... Read More
Strangely enough, I use to be very sympathetic to the black community. Then Lyndon Johnson passed his legislation in 1965 and all of a sudden blacks were being actively recruited into colleges that were rejecting equally qualified students of other races. And many times the blacks received Grants or scholarships that white kids couldn't get. Then I saw many companies start giving blacks preference in hiring and many superior qualified non blacks were told to hit the road. And, the black community over the last 47 years have enjoyed more and better of almost everything just because they are black. And, surprisingly, they do not appear to be better off as a community than they were before all the goodies were just thrown at them. And, in many cases they are worst off. Yet, that's all I hear from many Black folk....Honky has discriminated against them and held them back. I don't know how long the black community intends to milk that "honky is to blame" cow. The black community has had more rights and opportunities than many whites over the last 50 years and yet they have the highest unemployment rate, highest rate of out-of-wedlock births, highest crime rate, highest rate of single parent families (Father has flown the coop and not accepted physical or monetary responsibility for their offspring). And, yet it's still Honkey's fault. I have lost my sympathy for the black community. I came from a very poor family but could not afford college until well into my adult years. If 50 years of bending over backwards to give the black community a hand up is not working, how can Honkey still be responsible? I believe the black community should take responsibility for their own inability to make their own way and see that it is THEIR FAILURE not racism ot the non black community
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 19 at 7:17am
Slave owners and settlers fearful of Indian raids
and slave insurrections would naturally want some
guarantee of the right to own and bear arms. To me,
that is just common ... Read More
Slave owners and settlers fearful of Indian raids
and slave insurrections would naturally want some
guarantee of the right to own and bear arms. To me,
that is just common sense. This is not a new discussion.
This concern was especially strong in the southern
colonies which depended on slave labor.
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 19 at 5:27am
4th....Now, you have invited two black men to kiss you.....
interesting. Sounds like you.re really getting into
black. If this some kind of obsession ? I guess that
some ... Read More
4th....Now, you have invited two black men to kiss you.....
interesting. Sounds like you.re really getting into
black. If this some kind of obsession ? I guess that
some of your best friends are black. :)
4 th Generation Texan Sutherland Springs January 18 at 6:22pm
I saw Danny Glover's statement and wondered if he realized how ignorant and stupid he sounds when he speaks. He's been on my blacklist for a while now. i don't think ... Read More
I saw Danny Glover's statement and wondered if he realized how ignorant and stupid he sounds when he speaks. He's been on my blacklist for a while now. i don't think I can bear to see another of those pictures of him smoohing up to Chavez and Castro. Obviously, he has some kind of mental problems. Anyway, my blacklists includes not watching any performances by him. He just emphasises part of the problem in liberal Hollywood...a whole lot of unintelligent, uneducated, uninformed, fornicators/adulterers/druggies shooting off their mouths and saying ridiculous things. And, TAM certainly should come out with a statement denouncing his stupid remarks. While I'm bending over for O to kiss my behind, Daanny Glover can get in line to also kiss it.
Today, Texas Aggie Conservatives issued the following press release:
Actor Danny Glover Claims 2nd Amendment Created to Oppress Slaves
Texas Aggie Conservatives Launch Protest Petition
College Station, TX --On Friday January 18, 2013 the student activist group the Texas Aggie Conservatives (TAC) launched an online petition in protest of controversial statements made by actor and political activist Danny Glover. In a video posted on YouTube by the TAC, Glover claimed that the right to bear arms was created to oppress slaves and Native Americans at Texas A&M’s annual Martin Luther King breakfast this past Thursday morning.
“One of those things is when we talk about the 2nd amendment, the right to bear arms, I don’t know if you know the genesis of the right to bear arms, the second amendment comes from the right to protect themselves from slave revolts, and from uprising by Native Americans.” said Glover.
TAC Chairman Eric Schroeder claimed "It's outrageous. It should be a time for real reflection and respect. Instead, the university pushes a political agenda. The university doesn't want its donors to know all this. Donors need to hold the university accountable and withhold contributions."
Schroeder and the TAC have called on the Texas A&M administration to equally distribute funds for conservative speakers.
"Texas A&M spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on events that promote only the leftist worldview, and the Aggie Conservatives will not stop exposing this waste and abuse until true fairness and equality is achieved and the university administration returns it's focus to providing a quality education to Texas's future workforce and leaders."
The Texas Aggie Conservatives promote conservative principles and advance the conservative movement at the university, local, state, and national levels in a number of different ways. These include educating students and the public, advocating for conservative fiscal and social policies, campus activism, offering camaraderie for conservative students, and campaigning for conservative political candidates.
PRAIRIE GROUCH GRAND PRAIRIE TX January 18 at 3:36pm
I find it interesting and amazing no one speaks of drug use. Street or prescription.
Could not that be a very huge part of the puzzel that leads to ... Read More
I find it interesting and amazing no one speaks of drug use. Street or prescription.
Could not that be a very huge part of the puzzel that leads to these unspeakable acts?
Press Release Received from Rep. Karen Bass on Wednesday:
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif), member of the House Judiciary Committee issued ... Read More
Press Release Received from Rep. Karen Bass on Wednesday:
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif), member of the House Judiciary Committee issued the following statement on President Obama’s proposals for comprehensive steps to reduce gun violence:
“I commend President Obama and Vice President Biden for their bold leadership in compiling these thoughtful recommendations on steps that can be taken to reduce gun violence across America. Since the Newtown tragedy, more than 900 Americans have been killed due to gun violence.
We live in a society where children, particularly those growing up in urban areas are exposed to mass gun violence on a daily basis and the time has long passed for us to take action. Commonsense reforms such as universal background checks and ensuring health insurance plans cover mental health benefits are proposals that all Americans – including NRA members can get behind. I urge my colleagues in Congress and the Administration to move quickly in enacting these reforms, including the reinstatement and strengthening of the assault weapons ban. We owe nothing less to those who have lost their lives to senseless violence.”
President Obama and Vice President Biden have finally
started to stimulate the economy. Gun and ammo sales
are soaring and membership in the NRA is skyrocketing
"Joe, ... Read More
President Obama and Vice President Biden have finally
started to stimulate the economy. Gun and ammo sales
are soaring and membership in the NRA is skyrocketing
"Joe, you're doing a heck of a job." :)
NRA = terrorist organization and the Catholic Church is a hate group according to a petition on the White House Web site. ... the world turned upside down.
7th Generation La Vernian La Vernia January 16 at 8:31pm
This appeared on the National Rifle Association (NRA) website, nra.org:
NRA RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S GUN CONTROL PROPOSALS
01/16/2013
Throughout its history, the National Rifle Association has led efforts to promote safety and responsible gun ownership. Keeping our children and society safe remains our top priority.
The NRA will continue to focus on keeping our children safe and securing our schools, fixing our broken mental health system, and prosecuting violent criminals to the fullest extent of the law. 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. Only honest, law-abiding gun owners will be affected and our children will remain vulnerable to the inevitability of more tragedy.
Gun Appreciation Day issued this press release moments after the president's speech:
Gun Appreciation Day statement on Obama's executive orders regarding the mental ... Read More
Gun Appreciation Day issued this press release moments after the president's speech:
Gun Appreciation Day statement on Obama's executive orders regarding the mental health litmus test
Washington, D.C. - The Gun Appreciation Day statement on Obama's executive orders regarding the mental health litmus test:
"The mental health litmus test is wrong and plagued with unintended consequences. We do not live in the world of 'Minority Report', there is no pre-crime. We must not infringe on Americans' constitutional rights because they seek therapy and counseling. How many patients will avoid the mental health care system in fear they will lose their civil and natural rights and be registered and stigmatized as crazy?"
