Does Obama's gun control plan have a chance?

President Barack Obama speaks on proposals to reduce gun violence as Vice President Joe Biden watches on January 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. / Getty Images

On Wednesday, President Obama initiated 23 executive actions designed to help combat gun violence. But as he himself acknowledged, there's only so much he can do on his own. The "most important" changes, he said, need to go through Congress.

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Obama unveils comprehensive gun violence agenda

"To make a real and lasting difference, Congress too must act," said the president. "And Congress must act soon."

There are three main actions that the president wants Congress to take. The first is to mandate background checks for anyone who wants to buy a gun. (Right now, gun buyers who want to avoid background checks can, for instance, purchase a gun from a private seller at a gun show.) The second is to reinstate the ban on military-style assault weapons and limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds. And the third is to confirm Todd Jones as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Congress has not confirmed an ATF director in six years, and the president argued that doing so would improve the ability of that organization to help law enforcement in combating gun violence.

The president is also calling on Congress to ban armor-piercing bullets and pass new gun trafficking laws, pass his $4 billion plan that would provide funding for 15,000 police officers, and "end the freeze" on funding public health research on gun violence.

• Obama calls for sweeping new gun laws
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• NRA ad: Obama an "elitist hypocrite" on gun violence

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said soon after Mr. Obama's remarks that he is "committed to ensuring that the Senate will consider legislation that addresses gun violence and other aspects of violence in our society early this year." Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce an "updated" bill to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines on January 24, and the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to hold its first hearing on the proposals on January 30.

Getting the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster and pass a bill in the Democrat-led Senate won't be easy: The vast majority of Republicans as well as a minority of Democrats (mostly from the West and South) have traditionally been averse to new gun control legislation, and while some have softened their stance in the wake of the Newtown massacre, there remains considerable skepticism around passing what would be the most ambitious gun control legislation in decades.

"I will fight proposals in the Senate that threaten our Second Amendment rights and fail to take real action to curb a culture of gun violence in America," Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said Wednesday. "I fully support enforcing the gun laws currently on the books instead of creating new ones that erode basic rights of self-protection." Added Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa: "The President seems to think that the Second Amendment can be tossed aside."

Getting the plan through the Senate is the (relatively) easy part. There is even more opposition in the GOP-led House, where Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, could simply refuse to bring the proposal up for a vote. (Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said Wednesday that House committees will review the president's plan, "[a]nd if the Senate passes a bill, we will also take a look at that.") Many conservative House Republicans have already made clear they have no interest in passing the president's plan.

"The right to bear arms is a right, despite President Obama's disdain for the Second Amendment and the Constitution's limits on his power," Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Mich., said Wednesday. "Congress must stand firm for the entirety of the Constitution - even if, but particularly so, when President Obama seeks to ignore his obligation to 'preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.' Taking away the rights and abilities of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves is yet another display of the Obama Administration's consolidation of power."

Added Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa: "This is the latest attempt by the President to legislate through emotion, but doing so does not lead to quality legislation. Reducing violence across our nation is a worthy goal, but it is imperative that the Constitutional rights of our citizens are not forgotten in the process."

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[arbaches]

Thugs never would be short on GUNS or AMMO. For Gun Controllers, without personal security and, armed guards, I wish: at 3:00 AM two thugs breaks in on your home, rape your mother and your sister, kill your father and your brother, put you face down and paralyze waist down with a single stub in the spinal cord above pelvis, and GO BEFORE THE COPS ARRIVE. I have a gun because I cannot have a cop, cannot throw a stone with 2800 FPS, and do not like above story to happen to me and my family.

[nhbearcat]

thats severly messed up that you wish that kind of hing on someone

[ScottHaley]

Over the years, I've been dismayed to learn that many Americans do not know that our government is one of ENUMERATED powers. If a power is not listed in the Constitution, then the Fed Gov't. does not possess it. Some do not know where the powers of the Legislature are found in the Constitution---Article I, Section 8, Clauses 2-18 (Clause 1 simply is an introduction to the rest). Finally, some do not know that the Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land. Laws passed by Congress cannot legally trump the Constitution. Citizens have the right to keep and bear arms, period; that portion of the Constitution never has been amended. Until it is, it stands. For years Congress has practiced Legislative Absolutism (a term coined by a Justice Harlan in 1901)--- passing "laws" with NO REGARD for the limits placed on Congress by the Constitution. The Executive Branch also has been exceeding its powers for decades. Apparently, citizens haven't read the Constitution since 8th grade Government class. Come on, folks...try reading it. Unlike statutes and regulations (Rules or Standards), it's very plainly written.

[kirkwilliams]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6spvItMBbU

if Obama's intentions are to then lock down a tyrannical police grid, I'd say no, the gun legislation has no chance

last year they did WAY too many military operations inside US cities, it made everyone wonder what Obama is up to

[kirkwilliams]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Qx0cTze0M

they need to go about it in a more democratic manner, not like they did during Katrina

[commentusmaximus]

WORST PRESIDENT EVER! BLAME BUSH, NOW BLAME GUNS. FOR BAD ECONOMY AND CRUMBLING SOCIETY WE BLAME YOU OBAMA.

[j_narby]

first it is the guns Next they say drinking and driving kills too many people so everyone must ride on a bus or train or a government taxi to make sure no one is drinking and driving. oh and too many people are overweight so you have to buy government approved food if your body fat index is too high. WAKE UP people disarming the American people is the first step in being able to do what you want. there is no nuclear war because everyone has a Nuke. when we were the only ones that had one we used it. the government has guns we should too.

[snowywhiskers]

What I would like to see is that the smart rich people like Warren Buffet, etc would throw in some of their billions when it comes time for primary's and the gun control lobbyists could threaten the people that do not vote for gun control with a billions spent to unseat congresspeople who voted against gun control, just the way the NRA threatens people in congress that vote against them. I would love to see that fight!!

[peter_out]

Let me repeat what we all already know:

1. The Clinton Ban had measurable non-impact on assault weapons being used in mass killing events with 15 events during the 10 year ban. There were 16 events in the 10 years preceding the Clinton Ban, and there have been 14 in the 9 years since.

2. Plugs can be made to be inserted in larger magazines just as with pump shotguns. Why introduce new magazines? There are already a billion magazines out there. After all, all laws are to help decent law abiding people. Simply suggest to gun owners they need not load all the way up.

[kylelee105]

what about the 10 years when the bill was in effect nothing changed during that time

[jamesdickason]

Nope--The Second Amendment and the Supreme Court says so. But then there is always the Man with his Executive Powers--

[AmericaSpeakOut]

If the goal is to reduce violent crime and protect children in schools, the solution has already been PROVEN.

Decades ago, Israel trained and armed school staff, including teachers, janitors and principals. That put an end to their school shootings.

SOLUTION: To protect school children, train and arm the school staff.

During the first year of the Obama administration, with national gun sales rising dramatically, the national murder rate declined by 7.4% along with other categories of crime which fell by significant percentages (FBI). 450,000 more people bought guns in November 2008 than November 2007 which represents a 40% increase in sales. The drop in the murder rate was the biggest one-year drop since 1999, when gun sales soared in the wake of increased calls for gun control as a result of the Columbine shooting.

SOLUTION: To reduce violent crime and protect the innocent, encourage the law-abiding to keep and bear arms, like the Constitution says.

Democrats do the OPPOSITE of what is proven to protect the children and society in general. They fight to give predatory criminals dominance of force in our society.

Democrats are enemies of the American People. They're not stupid, they are malicious.

[RickB2400]

well said ... I'm going to borrow this one.

[Erin323]

Oh yah, lets do what Israel did decades ago, look how safe it has become, I heard that is the new it spot for foreigners seeking freedom. Also I'm sure you've thought out the budget it would take to train all these people.. Im sure the government and taxpayers would love to pay for that since it is already such a hgh priority to pay teachers so well now. And yah, lets generalize the democrats as the enemies of the American people as if they themselves are not Americans and truly hope the country fails. Your way of thinking is brilliant and in no way damaging or dividing to the country, keep up the good ideas