Obama on Gun Control
President Obama is on record saying that he "believes" in the 2nd Amendment. This past Sunday, in an op-ed that appeared in the Arizona Daily Star, Obama reaffirmed his belief in an individual right to bear arms:
Now, like the majority of Americans, I believe that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. And the courts have settled that as the law of the land. In this country, we have a strong tradition of gun ownership that's handed from generation to generation. Hunting and shooting are part of our national heritage. And, in fact, my administration has not curtailed the rights of gun owners - it has expanded them, including allowing people to carry their guns in national parks and wildlife refuges.
The fact is, almost all gun owners in America are highly responsible....
But there's got to be a way, Obama asserts, to curtail gun violence and to make it much harder for a Jared Loughner to do what he did. To that end, three proposals for gun reform:
First, we should begin by enforcing laws that are already on the books. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is the filter that's supposed to stop the wrong people from getting their hands on a gun. Bipartisan legislation four years ago was supposed to strengthen this system, but it hasn't been properly implemented. It relies on data supplied by states - but that data is often incomplete and inadequate. We must do better.
Second, we should in fact reward the states that provide the best data - and therefore do the most to protect our citizens.
Third, we should make the system faster and nimbler. We should provide an instant, accurate, comprehensive and consistent system for background checks to sellers who want to do the right thing, and make sure that criminals can't escape it.
At a glance, the president's proposed reforms seem rather feeble, if not too ambiguous to pass judgment on. After all, collecting better data sounds harmless enough so long as we're in the dark as to what that entails. Similarly, making "the system" more efficient sounds fine, but what exactly is "the system"?
Beneath my own skepticism, I'm not sure whether I should be relieved that the proposed reforms seem so tepid, or disappointed that they aren't more radical and outrageous so that we could brace ourselves for a good, long fight ahead. What's your take?
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Oct '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
One word: Triangulation. It's hilarious, the Obama crowd are exactly the sort of progressives who absolutely hated triangulation--White House aides were always telling reporters how much they hated the "small-ball" politics of the Clinton years. Ah, what contact with the real world can bring. . .
Jul '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
"First, we should begin by enforcing laws that are already on the books."
Funny, I've been called "nativist," even racist, for making the exact same statement.
Nov '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
States providing complete data on persons who have been adjudicated mentally ill and a danger to themselves or others is something everyone would want to see, but Obama is a radical leftist and that means there is always a hidden agenda. I don’t trust leftists because they are always looking for a way to deny guns to more people. They might try to classify as raving maniacs people who have seen a shrink to get some insight into a few personal issues.
The fact is the NICS checks contribute little if anything to stopping gun violence because anyone who really wants to can find a way to get a gun illegally. If they are planning on using a gun to commit a violent crime they certainly aren’t going to be deterred by the inconvenience [if any] of going to the black market instead of the legal market. In fact, black market guns are sold at much lower prices than legal guns. The seller has a low overhead.
Of course, the lower price is offset by the risk of a prison term, but that’s usually beyond their ken.
Edited on Mar 17, 2011 at 11:11amMar '11
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Second, we should in fact reward the states that provide the best data - and therefore do the most to protect our citizens.
That one makes me nervous.
Third, we should make the system faster and nimbler.
That one makes me laugh.
Re: Obama on Gun Control
As you say, Obama's words are so ambiguous it's hard to comment, but if he ever does get down to specifics, then dollars to donuts, he'll trample on federalism. "Rewarding" states will probably end up being "coercing" states. Part of the Brady law was struck down on the federalism principles -- the federal government cannot "commandeer" the states to participate in the enforcement of federal laws.
My guess is that his complaints about the "inadequate" data supplied (voluntarily) by states, and his talk of "rewarding" states for better cooperation is prelude to making another run at commandeering the states -- all in the name of upholding the Constitution, of course.
May '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
I'm amused by the way the the anti's are now saying 'gun safety' - their attempt to twist the language is laughable - to teach proper firearm safety - you need to have a fully functional firearm :-) - the last thing they want
You can't properly teach the manual of arms for a firearm - and how to safely handle and manipulate the firearm without one - you'll leave the visual and kinesthetic learners behind.
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Obama wants to be seen by the left to be doing something, and he does not dare rile up the NRA. This is, like everything else that he is doing, an election stunt.
Jul '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Gosh, shouldn't we be applying the same screening standards for determining citizenship?
Jul '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Forget it, Jake. It's 2012.
Jul '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Quite simply, he is a serial liar. His entire career has been one attempt after another to ban guns. He can say whatever he wants. We know what his agenda is.
Jul '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Hey, I have an idea.
Let's take the people who commit crimes, and put them in Prison. (Not Resort, Prison.)
And when they don't learn their lesson, as in commiting crimes again, like two more times, put them in Prison and Leave Them There.
Wait a minute, isn't that called Three Strikes You're Out? Something the Gun Grabbers oppose!
Simply put, criminals will seek out and find guns to commit crimes when they are out on the street. Mentally Ill people witll seek out and find guns when left to thier own ends as well.
Take them out of Society and put them someplace where they cannot hurt others (or themselves) and I Dog-Gone-Guaruntee You that the Guns will not go seeking them out!
May '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
He's captured the rhetorical high ground here and it will be very hard to assail what I think most people would regard as a reasonable position. The place it will fall down is likely Congress for as others point out the "reward states" piece likely means making $ contingent on the achievement of certain statistical outcomes. Senators don't like it very much when one state gets more than another...
Dec '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Yes, funny how that works doesn't it?
Oct '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Simply, Obama was compelled by events to make some statement. Little if any will come of this.... If they want to enforce the laws on the books, start with the DOJ and the ICE folks...
As a sidebar, when Obama stated that he "believes" in the 2nd Amendment and it is a duty to support that belongs to the President in a recent speech... It appears that he was speaking about some guy backstage in another suit...
Edited on Mar 17, 2011 at 3:27pmNov '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
1 and 3 are reasonable, even desirable. 2 is dangerously vague.
Dec '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
I actually fear that the gun grabbers want a little more violence. It may be cynical, but I'd be willing to wager they would gladly sacrifice a few more citizens to criminals and crazies with guns if the ends reached include removing guns from every law abiding citizen. My solution is for everyone to be armed. I dare someone to attempt something stupid, crazy, or illegal in the presence of a bunch of armed citizens. On even terms law abiding citizens always win. Just look at how many would be airline bombers have been subdued and stopped by those who did not wait for the authorities to handle the situation. Armed to the level of the criminals we would likewise prevent their mischief.
Oct '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Obama's thrust is to cast responsibility for weapon transfers among private citizens. With fast, reliable internet access there is no excuse for private deals to go unrecorded.
Like seat belt laws, Obama is trying to stick the Camel's nose under the tent. Soon it will become that (1) Yes, you must check the database and (2) Yes, to avoid improper use of the database, you must successfully log in before access will be granted.
Step by step by step...
May '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
"First, we should begin by enforcing laws that are already on the books. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is the filter that's supposed to stop the wrong people from getting their hands on a gun."
How about a "National Instant Legal Residency Check System" for anyone seeking public benefits like education, medical treatment or other subsidized services and see how that works out first, hmm?
"Second, we should in fact reward the states that provide the best data - and therefore do the most to protect our citizens."
How about not suing states that seek to enforce the laws "already on the books" thereby really doing "the most to protect our citizens" that the federal government won't?
It'll never happen with this creepy little tyrant dictator we have in office. We're all on the Road to Serfdom with him around.
Dec '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Our historic first Islamic apostate president exhibits one exceptional pattern of behavior, exempt of equivocation or of desultory indifference like his others, which signals to us in every instance that we can reliably count on his conduct to realize his intentions until his ends are achieved.
It is this: When he goes out of his way—for him a rare effort—in describing a policy or program that sounds like something with which conservatives could agree, he will do everything in his power to make sure that what actually gets done is the opposite.
The more he writes editorials affirming “I believe that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms,” the more ammo and weapons will cost and become rare.
Also, like when he frequently omitted “our Creator” when repeating his stump speech misquoting the Declaration of Independence, “… that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” he deliberately omitted the verb “keep” from the Second Amendment, “… the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”—an omission all the more significant in a written editorial.
Dec '10
Re: Obama on Gun Control
Hear, Hear!