WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is announcing a $500 million package of executive actions and legislative proposals aimed at reducing gun violence a month after a mass shooting in Connecticut killed 20 elementary school children.
The package includes a call on Congress to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazine and it would close loopholes in the gun sale background check system.
Obama also is signing 23 executive actions — which require no congressional approval — including several aimed at improving access to data for background checks. A presidential memorandum will instruct the Centers for Disease Control to research causes and prevention of gun violence.
In addition, Obama will nominate Todd Jones as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jones currently is the acting director of the agency.
Comments (58)
Add commentIt's the children
How can anybody over the age of 8 years follow this guy?
Just going to be another
Just going to be another Washington [filtered word]ing match. There are constructive gun controls that can be put in place that does not include bans. The problem is neither side will drop their all or nothing approach. I have always said there is a middle to be found that does not favor the extreme of either side. Just to many want their agenda and are unwilling to hear others.
Middle ground
Our country is so divided along political, social, and cultural lines that it will never recover. It no longer makes sense to ignore this fact.
Additionally, we must admit that 435 individuals cannot possibly represent the true wishes of over 300 million. It is beyond the time for a serious discussion about the creation of new nations within our border.
I think that was tried once
I think that was tried once before. It didn't go so well for the one side.
Thumbs
Wow, all thumbs down. That must mean the divisions will soon heal and congress actually does do a good job in representing the country.
Why is there such angst toward the idea of having more than one nation among the 50 states? Even with the nation's split over slavery 150 years ago, there has never been a time when the lines of division were clearer than they are today. Having two (or more) countries would give people the opportunity to live among like-minded citizens and stop the bickering among each other on these issues.
For example, the citizens of the "Liberal States of America" could live in their utopia of no guns, free healthcare, and higher taxes on the wealthy. The "Conservative States of America" could implement the "fair tax", ban all non-traditional marriages, and keep government small. Why is this not a good thing?
Read
the Pledge of Allegiance
Nicely put Reader. Simple and
Nicely put Reader. Simple and to the point.
"One Nation Under God"
I don't care what side you're on politically, all good
Americans know that.
Great idea!
Do we divide the national debt equally among citizens of the new countries or hold responsible those former states (the South) that created more debt?
How are we going to divide up Social Security? I'm really banking on those Connecticut and Massachusetts contributions for my own retirement.
Finally, because I hate tobacco more than anything, can we exile all of the smokers to the North where it is less tolerated so that they will either finally shame them into quitting or at least pick up their health care bill?
States will handle it
The national debt will never be paid because there is no economy in the world big enough to pay it. Whatever is going to happen with it now would probably still happen, but if the states were each assigned a percentage of it according to their role in creating it, it could be handled better. Social Security can be tracked to the individuals who paid in to it and the failing program would presumably be continued in the LSA and given back to the people in the CSA. People will be free to decide which country they want to live in based on how they want to be governed. And the countries don't have to be based geographic boundaries either. At the time of the formation of the new governments, states that wish to join one or the other can simply declare their allegiance through their respective legislatures or through a popular vote.
How about eliminating the
How about eliminating the social security system and provide a minimum 'living' income funded from general tax revenue for the disabled and retired seniors?