Fortunately, we can expect his push to have a short shelf life
(The Hill) President Obama on Saturday called on Congress to act on his gun-control proposals.
In his weekly address, the president said his administration has taken several steps this week to reduce gun violence. But lawmakers on Capitol Hill need to pass legislation to help prevent mass shootings like the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut, according to Obama.
If only someone would pass a law making murder illegal.
“My administration is taking a series of actions right away — from strengthening our background check system, to helping schools hire more resource officers if they want them, to directing the Centers for Disease Control to study the best ways to reduce gun violence,†Obama said. “But the truth is, making a real and lasting difference also requires Congress to act — and act soon.â€
In other words, Obama’s done his job in laying out a series of sentences on a sticky note, now others have to do the actual work while he agitates.
And in the weeks ahead, I will do everything in my power to make them a reality. Because while we may not be able to prevent every senseless act of violence in this country, if there is even one thing we can do to reduce it – if even one life can be saved – we’ve got an obligation to try.
If the 2nd sentence is anything like his promises to focus like a laser on the economy, he’ll drop this subject in short order. As for the 3rd, we could save at least one life by banning cars. And hammers. And knifes. Bathtubs. Airplanes. Hands.
Second, Congress should restore a ban on military-style assault weapons, and a 10-round limit for magazines. Many assault rifles, when combined with high-capacity magazines, have one purpose and one purpose only: to fire as many bullets as possible as quickly as possible. These weapons have no place in our communities. And a majority of the American people agree with me.
Spoken like a true uniformed politician. These weapons are, for the most part, simply scary looking versions of other weapons. The difference between a Bushmaster .223, used in the Newtown shooting, and a Vepr Pioneer, is only in how the look, not in how they work. And why 10? Why is that a magic number?
Finally, Congress needs to make it easier, rather than harder, for law enforcement to do its job. We should get tougher on people who buy guns only to turn around and sell them to criminals. And at a time when many communities have been forced to make cuts to their police force, we should put more cops back on the job and back on the street.
Someone should make it harder for Obama admin agencies to walk guns across the border into Mexico without the knowledge of Mexico’s government, with no plan to track the 2400 guns, which resulted in well over 200 deaths, including children.
While I certainly respect the police, their job isn’t necessarily to be there to stop crime, but to catch criminals. Chicago has lots of cops. But, the legal citizens are disarmed. Hence, well over 500 murders this year. And Obama’s proposals tend to target law abiding citizens, not the crazies and criminals that kill.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.
Read: Surprise: Obama Pushes Gun Control In Weekly Address »
