Biden: Gun violence proposals to Obama by Tuesday
Vice President Joe Biden meets with gun owner groups in his ceremonial office, to develop policy proposals as part of the Administration's response to the Newtown shootings and other tragedies, in Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2013. / White House/David Lienemann
Updated: 4:10 p.m. ET
After consulting with a series of stakeholders in the ongoing debate over gun control, Vice President Joe Biden will present his recommendations for reducing gun-related violence in America to President Obama on Tuesday, he said today.
Obama will get gun recommendations by Tuesday, Biden says
The vice president, speaking to reporters before a meeting on gun violence with sportsmen and women, and just minutes before another school shooting was reported, outlined a series of the recommendations he said are emerging in the course of his conversations with various stakeholders in the conversation. Among those possible proposals include universal background checks, restrictions on high-capacity magazines, and increased federal capabilities for effectively researching gun violence. Biden also stressed ongoing discussions about the importance of including the mental health community in the conversation.
"If you look at every one of the tragic events that have attracted so much attention, it's hard to be able to pinpoint what you would have done to assure it wouldn't have happened. But there's also things we know, we know, that there's certain actions we take that have diminished the extent of the gun violence that otherwise would be occurring in the United States," he said. "There's an emerging set of recommendations, not coming from me, but coming from the groups we've met with, and I'm gonna focus on the ones that relate primarily to gun ownership, what types of weapons can be owned."
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Biden also met with the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun groups, and will meet this evening with entertainment interest groups, including the Motion Picture Association of America. Former Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., now the president of the MPAA, will be in attendance. Additionally, Attorney General Eric Holder will discuss the subject today with retailers like Wal-Mart, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Bass Pro Shops.
The White House did not provide a readout of the meeting with pro-gun groups, but the NRA released a statement this afternoon blasting the task force for allegedly attempting to "attack the Second Amendment."
"We were disappointed with how little this meeting had to do with keeping our children safe and how much it had to do with an agenda to attack the Second Amendment," the statement said. "It is unfortunate that this Administration continues to insist on pushing failed solutions to our nation's most pressing problems. We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen. Instead, we will now take our commitment and meaningful contributions to members of [C]ongress of both parties who are interested in having an honest conversation about what works - and what does not."
Biden, the author of the original Assault Weapons Ban, was tapped by Mr. Obama to lead a task force aimed at developing actionable solutions to gun violence in America in the aftermath of the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut last month.Yesterday, he met with representatives of victims groups and gun-safety organizations like the Brady Campaign, as well as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's organization Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
In comments surrounding the meetings, Biden has acknowledged the difficulty of pushing gun control legislation through Congress, including among his "former colleagues in the Senate, who have been pretty universally opposed to any restrictions on gun ownership, or what types of weapons can be purchased, etc."
But he argued that, in the aftermath of the recent violence, there's a growing consensus around a certain set of ideas.
"I've never quite heard as much talk about the need to do something about high capacity magazines, as I've heard spontaneously from every group that we've met with so far," Biden argued. "And maybe one of the most important things we've been focusing on is the mental health community... There's an argument among health providers that this is a major component to deal with, particularly a lot of suicides as well that we're seeing today."
Regardless of what path Mr. Obama chooses to pursue, much depends on Congress's will to implement the administration's plan -- and the White House faces an uphill battle in overcoming immense pushback from powerful pro-gun lobbies, as well as longstanding Republican opposition to any tightening of gun laws. One possibility for sidestepping congressional opposition, Biden suggested yesterday, is that the president advance his agenda through executive order rather than pushing legislation through the House and Senate. It's unclear, however, how much Mr. Obama might be able to accomplish through that means.
A number of public officials -- including Bloomberg and former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., herself a victim of gun violence -- have also launched campaigns aimed at building public support for what they say are common-sense solutions for reducing gun violence. And new evidence suggests that support is growing: According to a December CBS News poll showed, 57 percent of Americans believe gun laws should be made more strict.
But the NRA, the most powerful of the pro-gun groups, is promising to pose staunch opposition to any such laws.
In the meantime, the vice president is urging both sides to seek common ground amid the fraught political debate.
"I'm not sure we can guarantee that this will never happen again. But as the president said, even if what we do only saves one life, it makes sense," he said. "And I think we can do a great deal without in any way imposing on or impinging on the rights of the second amendment, that the second amendment guarantees. That's what this is all about."
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On 12-20-12 Terry Gross talked w Mr. Diaz about his book, "The Last Gun--how changes in the gun industry are responsible for the rise in gun violence". It's the history of the assault rifle, which was made for the US military because they're not marksmen, & wasn't to get into the civilian population. Oh, but the gun industry decided that the slow down in sales didn't give them enough profit. Congressman Scott Tiahart of Kansas puts an Amendment on Appropriation Bills because he knows that they will pass. The Amendment forbids the CDC and others to track gun violence, because the gun lobby knows that if the American People have THE FACTS the gun industry loses. Scott Tiahart is, he's one of those Fundamentalists who dominates the TEA PARTY, who want a Christian Theocracy in the U.S. using the Book of Leviticus for Rule of Law, who tells the U.S. military "you're in God's Army doing God's work; he's supposedly pro-life. NPR, Fresh Air, 12-20-2012 get the transcript or listen to the whole interview. Protect the U.S. by being informed. Guns is the same ignorance, lies, and deceit the Right Wing uses for everything. And things aren't working out with the rest of their "DEATH SPIRAL" policies and "murder for profit" alliances. How bad can that get, to where the planet is total chaos?
Planet is on a trajectory to become uninhabitable. We go over a permanent, irreversible cliff 2015 from the Keystone XL Pipeline & those tar sands spewing 70% more pollution into the atmosphere than conventional oil. They created fraud studies about the jobs the Keystone Pipeline would create, just like they do with everything else. It's only a couple thousand, temp., construction jobs. We could be growing GDP by 158% w millions of Green and Infrastructure jobs, leave THE DEBT in the dust and get a Sustainable future. (REINVENTING FIRE, rmi.org) If you really want to know how corrupt the GOP is go to Moyers & Company & watch one expose' after another since 1-13-12 & particularly 1-4-2013 w Mr. Leiserowitz from Yale about the GOP and BIG OIL's "Disinformation Campaign". There's also a couple of articles on Bill McKibbens, founder of 350.org, & he lays out all the numbers. 15 years until we reach another increase in one degree temp in Celcius. It took 100 years to get the first increase but the 2nd is coming in 15 years. Every other measurable area is also out-of-control. They've destabilized the atmosphere with all the moisture that's being driven off the warmer oceans. It means that storms like Sandy w the $70 BILLION price tag, or Irene in 2010, or Issac in 2011 that flooded around New Orleans again, or Katrina, or Bopha which hit the Philippines in early Dec 2012 will become common place. Bopha killed 2000 people and left 1 million homeless. Same thing w sea level rise. It's 60% accelerated. They were expecting 3 feet rise by 2100 & every indication now is it will be 3 feet by 2025, 60 feet by 2100. Watch the documentaries? "Chasing Ice" by James Balog. 16 cameras record the deterioration of the ICE SHEETS. One of them just receded more in 3 yrs than the previous 100 yrs. All that is becoming sea level rise or no more clean water for India. "PBS, NOVA "Megastorms--how the hurricanes listed above will be commonplace". PBS, NOVA, "Secrets Beneath The Ice"--the melting of Antarctica will account for much of that 60 ft sea level rise. PBS, Frontline's "Climate of Doubt--GOP, BIG OIL's "Disinformation Campaign". A group committed to a Campaign of DECEIT that resultantly creates nothing but "DEATH SPIRAL" policies--1) Global Warming, 2) Keystone XL pipeline, 3) "cut and gut" budget that was forced on Roosevelt causing a double-dip driving unemployment past 15% that they want to do again, 4) repeal FINANCE REFORM so derivatives stuffed w junk can damage the economy for the 4th time just like 1987 (S&L), 1998 (LTCM), 2008 (Subprime)& all their "Murder for profit" listed above; well a group that sick, that dysfunctional, that psychotic doesn't belong in positions of power at any level of government. Clean out the corruption in the U.S Congress 2014, 2016. The DAMAGE REPORT is already in on their 3 decades of lies about Global Warming--they've killed TENS of MILLIONS & there's BILLIONS in damages to be TRILLIONS by 2020. We could be growing GDP by 158% w millions of jobs, leave THE DEBT in the dust,& get a Sustainable Future but for the GOP and the corrupt corporations who own them.
Princetta
BTW Legal I finally figured out how to DO that math problem. The plane flew for an hour at 515, it flew for and hour and a half at 343.133 and if you add the the miles up and round off you get 1030 which you divide by 2.5 and get the average speed of 412.
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My trouble with what you're talking about is that historynote never said for how long the plane flew- either way, to or from. Do we just invent a number?
I am sure I am missing something, however. The second speed was "343.33"- not "343.133."
You are assuming it flew for an hour one way, and thus one and a half times that amount, the other way, but how is someone to know that for sure?
I like my answer better, to be honest.
test
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Wait a minute now, how did this sneak its way in here?
It seems he probably closed his own account, and then re-opened it (if that is possible).
Some business of his 'A-team' last night, mumblings about recruitment. He wouldn't get specific, and rather appeared as if he did not want to.
I try no to discuss politics with the doctors who treat me - don't want them upset with me as they are deciding on treatment!
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About the only reason my doctor sees me IS to hear of talk of politics. Serious, not kidding at all. If it were another way, she wouldn't 'like' me.
And I have a binding contract with her. I'm at all times just a phone call away from a 'pick-up' order. No joke.
There is a strong argument for it tho.
Legal: Despite all the ills you've suffered at the hands of "government" (and I too have more than a few bones to pick with them at how I've been treated) it's the only thing that keeps us from anarchy. That's people are relucant to "abolish the forms to which they are accustomed".
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I'm not sure what you meant in your last sentence, LindaG.
I can tell you that the only thing that would work for me is moving away and at least trying to start anew. And since that is not presently an option that I have, I suppose I will have to wait and see how things pan out. I've had no shortages of invitations to 'get outta Dodge,' so to speak, but am unable to in good conscience do so at this time. Too many responsibilities. Nevertheless, I have been, in the past, appalled at some of the 'goings on' I have seen. And not just in my own life, but many, many others.
And truthfully, it's why I am in full support of legislating childbirth. If we don't do it soon, the unborn will have nothin'- literally.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/12/range-executive-actions-possible-on-guns-some-more-controversial-than-others/#ixzz2HmXbw3H2
CLOSETHIPPY1 says:
According to the NRA mindset if I'm robbed then it's my fault for not having a gun to prevent the roberry. Or if I had a gun but couldn't defend myself then it's my fault for not having trained well. It's my fault not being mindful of my surrounding 24/7 so I can sense an assault is about to happen and be ready for it.
May the best shooter win.
In the meantime the country is saturated with guns and it's my fault for not buying one and be ready for when a shootout happens.
The NRA should be declared a pathological mind disorder and treated as such.
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Sounds reasonable enough to me, though I don't pretend to know for certain that the NRA is actually a formal group operating under such assumptions about its non-member counterparts; you know, 99.8% of the total population.
by rkj98765 January 12, 2013 10:10 AM EST
BenJordon: actually, they are the largest and strongest organization. Larger than any other non-profit group. Shows how much you know. You see, for every person who is actually a member, several more are either sympathetic to their causes or even donate money as a non-member. The NRA is the most influential lobbying group in the United States. Period, hands-down. And, they'll likely grow by 10-20% in membership by April.
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Okay, so you have a small club, but its missions and functions become greatly enhanced by its 'unofficial' following.
Sorta sounds like Catholicism, if one were to ask me. You know, the droves and droves of other faces that show up on Christmas and Easter Holy holiday, only to be missed the other 50 Sundays out of the year.
I frankly cannot believe, myself, that those hanging onto the coattails of the NRA's core have one damn clue about who or what they are truly giving their support and assurance to. But that's just my opinion.
And then I'd finally had enough of their phone calls, solicitations and 'gimme, gimme, gimme.'
That and the fact that particular merchandise I bought and paid for, never arrived at my door. And even after they were told this and claimed they would correct the circumstances, the "stuff" still never arrived.
....save but the "American Rifleman", a monthly.