Obama wants gun violence measures passed in 2013

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By JIM KUHNHENN

WASHINGTON (AP) - Recalling the shooting of 20 first graders as the worst day of his presidency, President Barack Obama on Sunday pledged to put his "full weight" behind a legislative package next year aimed at containing gun violence.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Obama voiced skepticism about proposals to place armed guards at schools in the aftermath of the Dec. 14 deadly assault at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

In his boldest terms yet, he vowed to rally the American people around an agenda to limit gun violence and said he still supports increased background checks and bans on assault weapons and high capacity bullet magazines.

"It is not enough for us to say, 'This is too hard so we're not going to try,'" Obama said. "So what I intend to do is I will call all the stakeholders together. I will meet with Republicans. I will meet with Democrats. I will talk to anybody.
FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121230/DA3G50V00.html

[Pholus]

1. Take what works -- Norway's Gun Laws are nice!

After hearing a gunloon describe how silencers are legal in Norway I nosed around the total set of laws. Needless to say, the Scandinavians are practical and safe. We would do well to emulate them.

But of course, we're gun-kr-ray-see and that's here to stay.

[hughee99]

4. Yes, Norway hasn't had a person go nuts and shoot up a lot of people in almost 2 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Norway_attacks

[loyalkydem]

2. I was touched when he said that was the worst day of his Presdency

but this is going to be a heavy lift.

[banned from Kos]

3. Only if gun control candidates win the House in the midterms

odds 50-1 against.

[krispos42]

5. So... not legalizing drugs?

*sigh*

[onehandle]

6. Emulate Japan. nt

[goclark]

7. What does Japan do regarding this issue?

[Mojorabbit]

8. There goes the midterms, this and CPI are going to make a dent. nt

[mimi85]

9. So the midterms

are more important than children being slaughtered?

[Cali_Democrat]

11. If this costs the Dems the midterms, then so be it

We need to prevent the next Newtown tragedy. It's unacceptable to have 20 kids slaughtered so easily.

Fighting for gun control is more important than election results.

[Mojorabbit]

12. unless they confiscate every weapon in the country

you will never guarantee that this will not happen again. You just can't. With what damage a Republican majority in both houses can do...I don't think feel good legislation is worth the possible cost, eg rolling back alternative energy programs, environmental protections, climate change mitigation,women's rights, and on and on. Anything that can be done to prevent them taking it in the mid terms ought to be done. Peace, mojo

[Cali_Democrat]

14. If at least one life is saved because of the new measures

it's a victory.

[friendly_iconoclast]

15. How many lives will be lost from a Republican majority in both houses?

Or do they not count?

[Mojorabbit]

16. If the whole planet dies because we do not move forward

it is worth it to you? It is not worth it to me. The stakes are too high right now. We cannot afford to lose in the midterms.
On edit, I watched, Chasing Ice in the theater a couple of weeks ago. It really made an impression on me. We are in a big mess with
climate change and we have little time to try to turn things around. We must take the house.

[NickB79]

17. If we lose the midterms to the GOP

Any gun control laws passed by Obama and the Democrats will be in jeopardy of repeal, because if they gain momentum we could end up losing the presidency in 2014 as well.

Fighting for gun control is more important than election results.

I'm sure that's what a lot of Democrats felt in 1994 as well; then we lost the House and Senate to the GOP and got George Bush in the White House for 8 years.

The irony is that, without a long-term plan that weighs the potential political gains AND risks, we could actually end up making things WORSE by pushing through unpopular gun control measures if it ignites a backlash like the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban did.

[Cha]

10. Thanks Steve!

[alp227]

13. Also criticized the NRA guns in schools plan:

"I am sceptical that the only answer is putting more guns in schools. And I think the vast majority of the American people are sceptical that that somehow is going to solve our problem."