Biden takes on gun control opponents: "America's changed on this issue"

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a conference on gun violence at Western Connecticut State University on February 21, 2013 in Danbury, Connecticut. The conference, held at the school where Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter Adam Lanza once took classes, featured panel discussions on ways to reduce gun violence, protect children and make communities safer. Before killing himself, Adam Lanza killed his mother and 26 people inside the Sandy Hook School on Dec. 14. / Spencer Platt/Getty Images

In a fiery speech at a Connecticut conference to reduce gun violence, Vice President Joe Biden today called out groups like the NRA, charging that their most typical questions and concerns are nothing more than stalling tactics.

"The organized opposition, the same opposition I've been involved with for 40 years of my career... they throw up question after question.... because they're looking for roadblocks," Biden said at the conference, at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Conn. Today's conference was just about 10 miles away from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., bringing the conversation about reducing gun violence back to the place that spurred it.

Biden today said that December's tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook has changed the way the public looks at the issue of gun control, making it a national imperative.

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Biden on violence debate: "It is about guns"

"America's changed on this issue," he said. "We should all know the American people are with us."

And to the lawmakers who are concerned about the political risks, Biden said, "You all should know there's a moral price to be paid for inaction... If you're concerned about your political survival, you should be concerned about the survival of our children."

Biden has played a key role in the administration's response to the tragic Newtown shooting, leading a White House task force on reducing gun violence, working with stakeholders and communicating with the public. He acknowledged today the strong opposition that still exists to gun control, remarking, "Every one of these chats I do on the Internet... it's amazing the questions that seep in."

Just earlier this week, during a Facebook town hall event with Parents Magazine, Biden had to reassure his audience that stricter gun laws won't mean law-abiding citizens will have their guns taken away. Today, Biden again rebutted that concern and others.

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"They say assault weapons like the AR-15 are needed for self protection or recreation -- they are not. There are plenty of ways you can protect yourself or recreate without one," he said. "They say it isn't about guns -- they're wrong . It is about guns... These assault weapons are unnecessary and dangerous weapons that put our law enforcement at risk."

Furthermore, Biden insisted, effective gun control measures can be enacted "without infringing on anyone's -- anyone's -- constitutional right under the Second Amendment."

The vice president reviewed the proposals for reducing gun violence that he sent to President Obama after speaking with hundreds of groups on the issue and coming to a "consensus" on reasonable actions to take.

Those include enacting a near universal background check system, limiting high capacity magazines and renewing and strengthening the assault weapons ban. He also mentioned enacting a federal gun trafficking statute, putting more officers in the street and encouraging research into gun violence. Mr. Obama and Biden are also proposing funding to give schools the choice of hiring a dedicated law enforcement officer or a school psychologist or counselor.

"We can't remain silent," he said. "We have to speak for those 20 beautiful children who died 69 days ago 12 miles from here."

[SmithWesson21]

Hail Biden, All Hail Biden. "If you're concerned about your political survival, you should be concerned about the survival of our children." Wow, threatening and using children as shields to disarm law-abiding citizens. Sounds like uncle Joe has been reading up on how Hitler and Stalin controlled their citizens.....we all know how they ended up.

[Dolinator]

What is interesting is how the politicians can get up there and say this is what the "American People Want", Where do they get that from. All the American People i speak to are against what they propose!! Where are these "American People" They are talking about?? I think they say that to make you think you are alone on these issues and that it's really what THEY want instead of the "American People". They use us and abuse us and turn us against each other for their own selfish wants and needs. C'mon AMERICA stand up for your rights and don't let them take your "rights" away.

[SmithWesson21]

That's what I was wondering??? Where are all of these gun-opposing people he keeps talking about?? I think uncle joe has those imaginary friends following him around again.

[PeteS2333]

In Chicago last year, there were 532 gun murders. Chicago has THE strictest gun control laws in our nation, bar none. 83 of those deaths were school age children, most caught by a stay bullet from a gang-banger's gun like Hadiya Pendleton was. Why don't you assault rifle banning fools go and tell the mothers of those 83 children that their lives don't really matter. Since Hadiya was killed with a revolver, it's really not that important. ALL rifles account for less than 4% of gun murders, with the black scary version being just a subset of that percentage. So the "deadly military-looking" rifle, that none of you seem to understand the workings of, actually accounts for about 2% on all gun murders. TWO. In Chicago, the gangs account for about 80% of the gun deaths. If you want to make a meaningful difference in gun violence, go after the criminals. Crack down on the gangs and their illegal weapon sources. This way you might actually do some good. None of us law abiding gun owners need or want your recommendations on which weapons to use. Try devoting one tenth of the energy you spend trying to take the guns from those who don't commit crimes, towards REAL solutions to gun crime. Hint: Gun crime is committed by CRIMINALS.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Only a idiot thinks their 2nd amendment rights are absolute!

[Digital_Sgt]

It has always been widely understood that the Second Amendment, like the First and Fourth Amendments, codified a pre-existing right. The very text of the Second Amendment implicitly recognizes the pre-existence of the right and declares only that it "shall not be infringed."
Supreme Court of The United States

[buckn]

Only an idiot thinks that it's not.

[aoknighten]

Joe does not need that 67 corvette he owens its too small and too fast and dangerous to drive and not vary efficient. What he needs is a good compact fuel efficient car that will seat a family of four. What guns too own should be decided by the law-abiding private citizen and not dictated what he or she can and can not own. Just like he has the right to choose what type of automotive vehicles he wants to own.

[highlndr55]

What does Biden know about guns and gun safety? It appears to be not much. He advises his wife to go outside and empty the double barreled shot gun by shooting in the air twice. Couple of problems with that advice. Jill would be exposing herself to an intruder. Be defenseless, empty gun. Shooting in the air is illegal in Delaware, it is a felony. Fianlly, she might be shooting toward a school. Isn't he supposed to be making schools safer. Come on Crazy Uncle Joe, stick to what you know - stand up comedy.

[harv823]

NRA= Noxious Rifle Addicts

[Cowdogpete]

LIBERALS = Liars Idiots Beggers Embezzlers Racists Alarmists Loafers Slackers

Anybody can change an acronym.

[CWSMTB]

No Joe we are not with you. You might notice that firearm manufactures are working 3 shifts a day no holidays, no vacation and still have a 12 month or more backlog of orders. Ammunition fly's off the shelf as soon as it is available. So, no Joe, we are not with you but continue to live in your fantasy world until 2014.

[tsiya]

Most of the carnage is the work of barbarians and sociopaths that liberals refuse to lock up.

[PitBullDadAZ]

Biden is right about one thing, America is changed. More and More people are raising there head from PAP TV and MSM to question the motives of the Narcissist in Chief and his Minions. The current administration is forcing Americans to reread the Constitution and Bill of Rights because Oscama make end-runs around those visionary documents with his executive orders as though those EOs are missives from the Almighty.

This is all about control. Its about implementing Agenda 21.
Defenseless citizenry can be controlled much more effectively that those who are unarmed.