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President Calls for New Assault Weapons Ban, Universal Background Checks

Jan. 16, 2013 11:54am Madeleine Morgenstern

President Barack Obama signs executive actions to curb gun violence as Vice President Joe Biden and invited guests look on at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House, on Jan. 16, 2013.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for new bans on “military-style assault weapons” and high-capacity ammunition magazines and for universal background checks for gun buyers.

Flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and four schoolchildren who had written the White House in the wake of the Newtown shooting, Obama also signed 23 executive actions aimed at curbing gun violence.

Those executive actions include strengthening existing background checks by requiring federal agencies make more data available, nominating a new director for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, mandating better reporting of gun crimes and directing the Centers for Disease Control to study gun violence. He also asked doctors and other medical professionals to help by reporting threats of violence from patients with access to firearms.

Despite fervid speculation before Wednesday’s announcement about the sweeping measures Obama might take, he laid much of the responsibility on Congress to take action on his $500 million plan.

“To make a real and lasting difference, Congress must act,” Obama said. “And Congress must act soon.”

The president vowed to “put everything I’ve got into this” but added, “the only way we can change is if the American people demand it.”

Obama said there will be those who call the government’s actions a “tyrannical all-out assault on liberty” but said such claims are unfounded. He said the majority of the American people agree with his proposals.

Obama concluded his remarks Wednesday by acknowledging the parents of 7-year-old Sandy Hook Elementary victim Grace McDonnell, a little girl who loved art. Obama said one of McDonnell’s paintings now hangs in his private office.

“We must act now, for Grace. For the 25 other innocent children and adults,” Obama said. “Let’s do the right thing for them and for this country we love so much.”

Before Wednesday’s announcement, the National Rifle Association vowed to wage “the fight of the century” against Obama.

“I warned you this day was coming and now it’s here,” NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre wrote in a fundraising letter to members. “It’s not about protecting your children. It’s not about stopping crime. It’s about banning your guns … PERIOD!”

But the organization issued a decidedly dialed-back statement Wednesday afternoon, saying it would “continue to focus on keeping our children safe and securing our schools, fixing our broken mental health system, and prosecuting violent criminals to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Attacking firearms and ignoring children is not a solution to the crisis we face as a nation. Only honest, law-abiding gun owners will be affected and our children will remain vulnerable to the inevitability of more tragedy,” the NRA said.

This post has been updated. Original minute-by-minute updates below:

12:14 p.m. Obama says he’s hung a painting made by Sandy Hook victim Grace McDonnell in his private office.

“We must act now, for Grace. For the 25 other innocent children and adults,” Obama says. “Let’s do the right thing for them and for this country we love so much.”

12:13 p.m. Obama: We have the right to worship freely was denied to Sikhs in a Wisconsin temple. The right to assemble peaceably was denied in an Oregon shopping mall, an Aurora movie theater. Denied to those at Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary, on a Chicago street corner.

12:12 p.m. Obama says the most vital changes depend on congressional acting. Asks the American people to pressure their representatives.

12:11 p.m. Obama: “I will put everything I’ve got into this, so will Joe. But I tell you, the only way we can change is if the American people demand it.”

12:10 p.m. Obama says there will be some who warn of a “tyrannical all-out assault on liberty.”

12:08 p.m. Obama: I believe the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms. I respect the rights of sportsmen and hunters and people who own guns for collection and protection.

“We can respect the Second Amendment while preventing an irresponsible and law-breaking few from inflicting harm on a massive scale,” Obama says. He says these are common sense measures that have the support of the American people.

12:06 p.m. Obama: We should get tougher on people who buy guns with the express purpose of turning around and selling them to someone else. Says Congress hasn’t confirmed an ATF director in six years.

Also calls for more police on the job and on the streets.

12:05 p.m. Obama: “Congress should restore a ban on military-style assault weapons and a 10-round limit for magazines.”

12:04 p.m. Obama says Congress needs to require a universal background check for anyone who wants to buy a gun.

12:03 p.m. Obama says he’s signing a directive to strengthen the background check system, help schools, better reporting of gun crimes and enable the CDC to study gun violence.

12:01 p.m. Obama says in the month since Sandy Hook, 900 Americans have died from gun violence. “Every day we wait, that number will keep growing,” Obama says.

12:00 p.m. Obama says he started getting a lot of letters from kids after Newtown. Four of them are here today. One wrote: “I think there should be some changes, we should learn from what happened at Sandy Hook, I feel really bad.”

“These are our kids. This is what they’re thinking about. What we should be thinking about is our responsibility to care for them and shield them from harm,” Obama says.

11:57 a.m. Obama: “While reducing gun violence is a complicated challenge, protecting our children from harm shouldn’t be a divisive one.”

11:56 a.m. Vice President Joe Biden says he spoke with 229 organizations of law enforcement agencies, gun advocacy groups, sportsmen’s groups and more to deliver recommendations to Obama.

“We should do as much as we can, as quickly as we can….some will happen immediately, some will take some time,” Biden says.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (500)

stevephoenix
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:05pm
Disgusting. Throwing taxpayer money at a problem ..creating “busy work” for government workers….. that’s how do-nothing Democrats solve problems. How disappointing.

We need to INSTITUTIONALIZE the mentally unstable, the mentally ill. How many of us have co-workers, neighbors, friends, relatives who have a mentally ill or mentally unstable
loved one in their own home?

These people live Every Day of their Lives IN FEAR… fear that their mentally ill or mentally unstable loved one will hurt themselves or others!
There’s an epidemic in this country of mental illness in this country; these people are out on the streets and they’re a Time Bomb Waiting to Explode.

But instead, Obama “uses” children to Push America’s Buttons. What a CREEP.

This is about Obama/Democrats’ HATRED of the NRA, that’s all it is.

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SamsSon
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:59pm
Ignorant elites passing unconstitutional orders they don’t even understand. This is the USA where the market finds a way just like the last AWB. As far as ammo background checks here in NY- these assclowns have no clue as to how many of us load their own so we will just stop buying commercial ammo. Even if they were to outlaw all semi-auto’s we would still have the creative forces of our economy coming up with guns like the tactical lever gun Mossberg has out.

I get distiburbed reading the history of the Spanish Civil War. So much of the Spanish Civil War sounds familiar; after the gobal financial collapse, commies take power and tax the rich, run up the debt, crash the currency, attack the church, divide the haves from the have-nots. Half the populace taking arms against the other -a nightmare that we must find a way to avoid.

I look at the boy scout troop I currently lead and am so proud that there is a place in society where we are bringing up morally and physically strong American boys that will have the skills necessary to navigate the future.
Scout Oath:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Support the BSofA, NRA, and Tea Party!

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cjt1957
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:59pm
12:08 p.m. Obama: I believe the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms. I respect the rights of sportsmen and hunters and people who own guns for collection and protection.

Show me in the constitution where it says a word about Sportsmen or Hunters! We have this RIGHT to protect ourselves from our own government, you know people like obama….

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- ranepowel
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 7:09pm
  Show me in the 2nd Amendment where it says, “allows private citizens free access to firearms to fight a tyrannical government.”
  
  In fact, just point me to the 2nd Amendment part that mentions ANYTHING about a tyrannical government.
  
  Lol, you can’t. It’s all in your guys’ delusional minds. And thankfully, the Supreme Court will see things opposite to you as soon as Obama’s next Supreme Court Justices are confirmed by the Democratic senate :) :)
  
  Report this comment
fcar
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:58pm
NOTHING he has put forward will do ANYTHING but make the gun violence WORSE! MORE anti-gun laws the worse the gun crime….why?? Because the CRIMINALS know WHO to go after…the UNARMED citizen! It also makes it easier for the Obama Government to go after YOU…THE PEOPLE! The 2nd Amendment is to protect US from the Tyrannical Obama Government….not there for hunting….The PEOPLE’s RIGHT to Bear Arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED! ANY Gun law is an INFRINGEMENT of that RIGHT! IMPEACH KING OBAMA NOW!

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zoro51
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:58pm
to USE kids as a backdrop to USE them as a PLOY is NO DIFFERENT THAT MURDERING MUSLUMS USING KIDS AS HUMAN SHIELDS.. to FORCE a dispicable play ON america.. NO END THIS RAPISTS REIGN.. IMPEACH OBAMA NOW END THE CRAP END HIS I HATE AMERICA DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO DIATRIBE.. hes not american born hes S DAMN SOCIALIST WANNA BEA DICTATOR for life.. IMPEACH HIM NOW

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- carrolling
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:29pm
  12:12 – pressure ALL Representitives…
  
  Report this comment
nospyme
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:57pm
To PRREDLIN-
You’re full of it regarding a) the innocence of obongos E.O.s, in addition to your baseless support of his unconstitutional usurpation using said E.O.s.
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.[This puts back into Obongocare the invasion of privacy that the NRA had earlier protected us from. You cant confiscate until you first have a data base of gun owners, right prredlin?]

Executive Orders are suposed to be administerial in nature, meaning that the president can SUPPORT Congress’s legislation. It is NOT to be used to create legislation at the presiden’t's whim.
Nice try troll…..

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GIVEMEGIVEMEGIVEME
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:53pm
8 MORE YEARS…8 MORE YEARS…Re-elect Obama in 2016.

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coyote1hell
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:52pm
Buh’rack the Gun-Runner, has spoken…piss..on your rights…Me, an Erick-the-Dick-Holder…get a pass…you fools get your rights taken…by Meeee….

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RJHoward
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:50pm
“We can respect the Second Amendment while preventing an irresponsible and law-breaking few from inflicting harm on a massive scale,”

So lets pass laws to prevent the law breakers from breaking the law? I know Obama’s a smart guy so when he says things like this it leads me to believe that he thinks we’re stupid.

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FaithfulFriend
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:50pm
And out of all the executive orders signed today only 1 affects me or my family or the way we’ve done anything we’ve done before:
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.

So basically, if a doctor chooses to ask about this, we’ll answer as we always have when asked by a doctor or anyone else who has no business knowing. The answer is a simple “No”

All the orders are here: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/01/16/list-obamas-23-executive-actions-on-gun-violence/

So basically, as time goes on and we are all eventually robbed of any other healthcare provider other than a national healthcare system, .the day will come when your wife goes on an antidepressant and you then get a letter from department of homeland security providing you with safety guidelines for your firearms now that your wife is “unstable”.

And how did they know you had firearms? You told some doctor, nurse or janitor “Yes”, instead of “No.

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bumfuzeled
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:48pm
The signing reminded me of Sadam Hussein when he tried to surround himself with children for a press conference for the west. Both he and the kids looked uncomfortable.

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stevephoenix
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:45pm
With all the controversy surrounding the US attorney Generals office… maybe Obama should fix that before enacting more laws they can over zealously prosecute.

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AlBundy
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:45pm
Obummer, you such a complete joke. He is as dumb as the voters who elected him.

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Margyt
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:43pm
I don’t think any changes should be made as a result of Newtown…or any of the other mass murders….the problem is too complex and random. The kids who wrote BO on this are reacting to external influence and can’t possibly understand the complexity of gun rights. Thus, their voices are irrelevant.

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DouglassFiller
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:43pm
Thanks to the Blaze for providing the link showing what the executive orders are. #16 & #17 seem a little out of place.

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Jive Mickey
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:39pm
Obama said. “Let’s do the right thing for them and for this country we love so much.”

Did he mean to arrest and imprison him?

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Hiker22
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:36pm
I hope all state and local authorities sit down tonight and really think about if they want to defy our Constitution and the oath they took by enforcing these unconstitutional laws upon law abiding citizens.

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GTeye
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:35pm
@PRRedlin, You must be reading different things than I am…. doctors asking whether I have guns at home and being given the power to send over a “report” that can lead to peoples lives being turned into a living hell is ridiculous.

Mind you, he also didn’t say they would be “armed” and thatthere would be one at every school…

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everydaywoman
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:34pm
“the only way we can change is if the American people demand it.”

We are demanding it….you just refuse to listen.

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- hatchetjob
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:43pm
  This morning on Beck’s show, Glenn said that our Congress doesn’t care what we as citizens want.
  
  Report this comment
moosebeeusa
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:34pm
I am president hear me roar.
Preposterous in chief (PC)
Is anyone going to be at a friendly protest on gun regulations on January 19th 2013
Why are we letting our government put us 17 trillion in debt and now letting then regulate our freedoms to protect our property family and homes???????

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ZZTOP
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:34pm
Congress should not fund most of obama’s exc orders….

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Carlinpa
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:34pm
RE”12:08 p.m. Obama: I believe the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms. I respect the rights of sportsmen and hunters and people who own guns for collection and protection.”
I know that liberals are functionally sub literate, but why do the ALWAYS add things that are not found in the Constitution to fit their agenda, The Constitution does NOT offer hunting as the reason to bear arms. We have the right to protect us from a tyrannical government ( see Roosevelt internment camps for the Japanese and Germans)

Man! liberals truly are the wicked

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labman57
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:33pm
Conservative dogma never changes.

The arguments used by conservatives today in their fight against sensible federal gun regulations mirror those of conservatives over 150 years ago in their self-serving opposition to the abolishment of slavery.

Once again, conservative politicians and pundits indignantly thump their chests, encourage their followers to take the law into their own hands — self-righteously believing that they must take an ideological dump on the fundamental tenets of our democracy in order to preserve them, and angrily chomp at the bit over another opportunity to be on the WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY.

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DouglassFiller
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:31pm
People who favor elimination of personal choice when it is agreeable to them are foolish. They completely lose their option to say no, even if they change their mind.

I don’t buy the bit about a majority of Americans having the same sentiment, either.

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stevephoenix
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:29pm
You all can now describe to me how any ONE of these proposed measures mentioned would have stopped Adam Lanza from shooting children last month, and then you can tell me how the previous assault weapons ban kept Columbine from happening. Then we can talk. Go on, give it your best shot. Knee jerk reaction BS.

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