An outstanding speech on gun violence

[Recursion]

That was absolutely perfect.

To recap, for those who missed it, Obama has just:

1. Signed a series of executive orders strengthening the NICS background check system
2. Called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban
3. Called on Congress to ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds
4. Called on Congress to require background checks for every transfer of a firearm
5. Reaffirmed his belief that the 2nd amendment protects a legitimate individual right to own firearms for hunting, sport, protection, and collecting
6. Called on people from areas where the tradition of gun ownership is strong to speak out for these reforms

And he even invoked the Gipper.

If you've read my posts, you know I don't like #2 and you know why, so I won't get into that here. But this was a tremendous speech, was respectful to gun owners, and I suspect will go over well among the sane.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. I didn't get the details on the executive orders

Did he mention each one? Or just make a generalized characterization?

I was making lunch, couldn't give it my full attention.

[Recursion]

2. RomneyLies has a thread listing them all

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2201400

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. Thanks for that link

good info.

[still_one]

3. I agree, however I suspect nothing will happen, even with just background checks with this Congress

the republicans will never accept it

[JaneyVee]

4. It was great. Sane, rational, poetic, & filled with common sense.

[PoliticalBiker]

19. unfortunately,

common sense and politics are diametrically opposed to one another

[Scuba]

21. Only in the Republican Party. We're quite comfortable with common sense on this side of the aisle.

[panader0]

5. A question:

What happens to all of the legally purchased "assault weapons" that are out there right now?
I know a couple of people who own these and they believe the government will come to confiscate their precious.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

7. pretty much every awb out there has grandfathered existing items. nt

[Recursion]

8. I really wish this "precious" stuff would stop, but to answer you

Under Feinstein's proposed ban, they would have to be registered with the ATF within 2 years but would not be taken. This was also what she proposed in 1994, but that got watered down to just grandfathering them in.

[Marrah_G]

13. In mass where we kept the AWB, high capacity mags are grandfathered in

You can't sell them if you have them.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

6. I agree with 4 of those. I disagree with #2 and dont care either way about #3. nt

[Recursion]

11. I'd tie #3 with a higher-than-market-value buyback

Call it a stimulus package if you want to, but I see no downside to decreasing the number of high-capacity ammunition feeding devices out there.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

15. I see no upside to either #2 or #3.

I just don't think either of those measures - no matter how successful they are at removing those items from society can actually greatly impact incidence of crime. This is simply because they don't already comprise or enable any significant component of current crime and these two issues generate the most pushback. They might be scary to others and have no meaningful necessity - but there are other factors much more responsible for the american public health gun problem.

I think the four absolute best things we could do are:
1) 100% background checks - just make everyone go through an FFL
2) Tighter NICS checks - Tighten reporting requirements for a more comprehensive database.
3) Actually prosecute incidents where prohibited persons try and buy guns.
4) Mandatory sentencing for violent & domestic crime involving firearms

[Recursion]

17. I agree that those 4 are what matter

I just see the ban on high capacity magazines as politically favorable to us with no particular down side (the upside is just that voters like it).

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

20. In general, I don't like any restrictions without social benefit.

Doesn't matter what political topic - I believe that if the government is going to restrict the actions of people, it needs to have a clear quantifiable public impact/benefit. Then again, I'm more of a socially-liberal libertarian...

[Cetacea]

10. 7. Basically told people to stop blaming the mentally ill

"who are far more likely to be victims of crime". Outstanding.

[Recursion]

12. That was great

The whole thing was great. Substantive and fact-based without trying to turn it into another front of the culture war.

[Cetacea]

14. +1000

It really was. Biden's into. Everything. it was brilliant and moving at the same time.

[hack89]

18. NY appears to disagree with him

they are the ones that are implementing a database for people with mental illness that should not buy or possess guns.

[Cetacea]

22. Liberals like facts. Andrew is no liberal. And he is no Obama.

[hack89]

16. "the 2nd amendment protects a legitimate individual right" - sweet! nt