WASHINGTON — President Obama implored Congress on Wednesday to ban the sale of military-style assault weapons and to institute universal background checks for all gun buyers, as he outlined a broad proposal to prevent more mass shootings and attempted to rally public support for the effort.
Obama’s proposals came on the same day as Governor Deval Patrick unveiled his own plans to tighten what are already some of the nation’s toughest gun control laws. Under Patrick’s proposal, background checks would be required at gun shows; firearm magazines would be reduced to a maximum of seven rounds; and gun purchases would be limited to one a month for licensed buyers.
Comments
So when the NRA says there should be cops in schools they are ridiculous but when our fearless leader says it it's not? And again with the 30 round magazine? Again, the difference between 3 ten round mags and 1 thirty round mag is what? With a mag change taking all of 2 seconds?
If you find it is no big deal between a thirty round magazine and three tens, then what do you care if thirties are
banned. 2 seconds huh, I've seen guys drop them in combat in their hurry to make the exchange. Not to say you're not a skilled rifleman, just saying. So again what's the big deal?
There are already cops in many middle and high schools. I know there was one at my urban high school 15 years ago. The NRA is ridiculous because they advocate arming teachers and administrators who are not trained law enforcement professionals. The idea that educators should be trained to respond to a threat in an armed, tactical manner is a movie fantasy.
Police train constantly in order to stay sharp in an armed response. Do you expect teachers – who this country barely trusts to make their choices in the classroom – to be ready at a moment's notice to fire their weapon at a threat?
As for large-capacity magazine, if it's not such a big deal to reload why does the NRA freak out about it? Do hunters or sportsmen really need to rattle off 30 rounds between reloading?
"richstan" When was the last time you were under fire making a "tactical mag" change. Wonderful terminology although I never heard it called that. But then perhaps you've been to a "modern warfare" class with different terminology. Regardless it ain't the shooting range when you are under fire. So the point is there is the option of failure in the exchange of magazines, two seconds, five seconds, ten seconds are a long time in combat and in any stressful environment. Again if you can change a mag so quick or anyone else can for that matter then the banning of the thirty shouldn't be an issue.
I have seen no proposal to remove any of my rifles, shotguns or pistols. As what I consider a responsible gun owner I see no problem with the banning of military type munitions, background checks or mental health registries. I am lawabiding have no problem following the rules and I'm not paranoid about my goverment. Show me where one of my weapons is being taken from my home and I'll get concerned. Even if I owned an AR no one is taking it away they are simply making it more valuable because they will no longer be on the market.
Never heard it called Tac mag change huh? Oh well. Let me set one thing straight with you. I have been to Afghanistan on 4 tours and currently train weapons systems for police and military. I have been under fire more times than I care to remember. I don't own guns, all mine are issued. I have no problem with increased background checks. No problem with eliminating gun show loophole. The problem I have is that by concentrating so much concern on something that will make no diffence, like the 30 round mag, all other legitimate reform will fall through the cracks. What kind of pistol do you have? Does it have a high capacity mag? Have you ever seen Jerry Miculek shoot? He shoots 12 rounds from a revolver in under 3 seconds (reloads with a speed loader after 6). We are not that far apart. I want to see reform but reform that will actually make a difference.
Wasn't knocking you however when I was in the military we didn't call it that. I said marvelous terminology. I frankly don't care how fast someone shoots or reloads. My point is the proposals put forth are not draconian and are not harmful to honest gun owners. The speed of mag change is really not a pertinent issue.
How about this. I did 2 tours in Nam you've done 4 in the Afghan so then we can speak honestly. Why does any civilian need military grade munitions. I am quite sure you know the difference regading the impact of 223 ammo compared to let us say a standard 308 or say a .32. Do you honestly believe any civilian needs military type munitions. People are constantly debating whether the AR=15 is an assault weapon or not. Given your background you must know that it is the munitions that is the issue not the type of weapon.
I agree some of this stuff is purely symbolic, but you know sometimes symbols are important.
Thanks Barack, at last somebody is taking steps to protect us from these gun crazed nut-jobs who hide behing a wildly distorted view of the secong amendent or thumb their noses at all the amendments and use gun ownership, legal or illega, in conjunction with, or as a low cost alternative to, psychotropic medication. (aka the latest antidepressant of "real Americans.")
Curious, was the lady who defended herself and children in Atlanta a few weeks ago one of those crazed nut-jobs who needed psychotropic medication?
NRA believes that people need to own guns so that they can prevent the government from taking away their guns. Think about that for a moment.
You should think about it for a moment, this country was founded when the British marched to take away our guns. Or did you miss that day in history class?
The NRA should quiet down their rhetoric. I agree with Morning Joe Scarborough. The Second Amendment is solid, but I think America is ready for a new and improved NRA. I'm kind of ashamed of that organization. They really missed a chance to take the high road after the Newtown shootings, but they remained in the 1950's.
Or perhaps you mean to say that nobody is allowed to criticize Barack Obama, while it is perfectly acceptible for Obama to demonize Republicans and exploit children for political purposes.
I've been an Endowment Life Member of the NRA for nearly 20 years. Yes, they certainly do have an extremist way of approaching many issues which I try to rationalize but often can't other than to think it's a stronger-than-you swagger-show postion. I'm also a Life Member of GOAL which is a MA-only group. They are very level headed. That said...... when I see a President use a particular event to enact a series of legislation, propose others for congressional consideration and then even go so far as to sign it surrounded by children as staged props, out comes the proverbial checkbook. GOAL, The NRA, & GOA each got a slice from me yesterday. You guys can keep the jackets and the engraved "thank you" knives made in China. Use my donation to find common ground. I'm tired of the fighting.
Who will administer this program?????Another costly Government agency with powers to infringe on our rights to protect ourselves but arm them to invade our lives and homes just like in New Orleans during Katrina??????? If all this rethoric was really about GUN CONTROL it would be one thing but its not is it? Its about total control over the citizens of this country by a few individuals to do exactly what they want to do to this country and live in the luxury of the empire they created.We Seniors saw it all in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and War in the early 1940s.......
what is a military style assault weapon?
A Ruger 10/22 (.22 caliber) that has been fitted with an after market stock to make it LOOK like an AR15. It doesn't actually shoot any different than it did before the stock was replaced, but it fits the definition of "military style assault weapon". The squirrels are definitely more terrified of those than a regular Ruger 10/22 for some strange reason.
Boston Globe EXPLOITS children by printing this photo, for purely political purposes. Meanwhile where's the Globe's picture of Algeria where REAL guns were just used to capture and kill American hostages by al Qaeda?
President Barack Obama's Jobs Council hit a notable milestone on Thursday: one year without an official meeting. The 26-member panel is also set to expire at the end of the month, unless Obama extends its tenure.