23 Points of Action
English: ATF Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The following is a list, provided by the White House, of executive actions President Obama plans to take to address gun violence.
1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.
Sounds good but wait, ATF a under the Department of Justice is already charted to track the manufacture, sale and provide background checks to State and local law enforcement. They issue Federal Firearms License (FFL), run the National Tracing Center and involved with Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Imitative. Could it be this Presidential Memo is telling them to do the job they already are suppose be doing. And is the same ATF und Dept. of Justice that ran the Gun Walking program that resulted in thousands of gun being sold across our borders? So what does this actually mean, to me, it would seem nothing but political double speak.
2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountable Act (HIPA), What does that mean? How on Earth can you link that to a background check? Are we to believe folks will have to have a medical release to get a background check? The current AFT forms and State forms to purchase a firearm already address that. The local law enforcement already keep records on those folks that are not allowed to purchase firearms in every state. So just what is it they want? A persons health records are to be protected and private between a patient and healthcare professionals. There already provision for healthcare professionals to from patients that have the potential to harm themselves or others. So although is sounds good in speech it does nothing.
3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.
Now that’s good, what incentives are referring to money? They are already doing this real problem is ATF can’t keep track and doesn’t seem to want to, after all no one is charge and haven’t even been able manage the current programs. Sounds more like a way justify spending more money on expanded agencies to do what they are already charted to do.
4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.
OMG, This is the same Dept Head that was in charge of Gun Walking program. If there any people slipping thru the cracks and were dangerous you sure would feel safe knowing they would be able review categorizing them by the very agency that can’t seem to go after the bad folks but instead sell them weapons behind secret operations and deny it. Talk about the fox in the hen house, I’m sure that will get the job done. Just hope you are not a chicken or the farm that owns them.
5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.
They already have this in place in every state. So what are saying here a federal release of some type? Doesn’t make any sense.
6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
We already have this in fact the multi page form is already out there and in use with reference to federal and state statues that relate to firearms. So just what more would another letter do? Sounds more like more political speak with no real value or direction.
7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
We already have this, the NRA as well and many other local law enforce agencies and gun owners organizations already are and have been doing this for years at no cost to Tax Payers. So it would seem the Administration is hinting for money to run an another program to do what responsible agencies already are doing. Maybe the can get the ATF and Dept of Justice be more responsible in their Gun Walking programs.
8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).
Consumer Product Safety Commission, WOW that’s a stretch if I ever heard one.
AFT and state laws already monitor and control safety, locks and safes for guns. Every state has laws on the books to address these issues already and are constantly being updated and approve. So what would CPSC do? OH I forgot they would be allocated funds to study this. HUH
9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.
OMG, that’s a mouth full, but wait the ATF already has that covered don’t they and aren’t they under the Dept of Justice. The ATF has the largest trace and ballistic operation in the world. Don’t take my word for it got to their website and look it up. Its for sure they can’t track and trace all of them using Radio Shack GPS units as they already tried that in Gun Walking program. So what is the Pres is requiring?
10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.
Now that’s a great idea, let’s start with the Gun Walking program and every person involved and approved. If the public only knew just how corrupt that operation was from the planning all the way to cover-up of the details. But do you really think you will ever see anything along those lines.
11. Nominate an ATF director.
Good idea, why has it taken years to even nominate someone for that position? Oh I forgot the President hasn’t had time? Why does that surprise anyone?
12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.
Training that most local agencies already have addressed to meet their own situations. Who or what is he talking about? Seems like a hollow statement with no action or details as to what and how.
13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.
This is good, just what does it mean? Prosecute is good but Dept of Justice can not decide which to pursue any crime that involved a gun should be treated with the full measure of the law with no bargaining for lesser crime.
14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.
CDC OMG, this is not a disease and can not be treated or studied as such. How in the world anyone can make that connection is ready grasping for straws.
15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.
Here we go again, Attorney General to issue a report on this. Seems to me the ATF under the DOJ already are required to do this under the current chart to Congress. Would be nice if we could get a true accounting of Gun Walking operation as well.
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.
Clarify, you got be kidding, Out of the 3000+ pages nobody still does have rules in that Act, we are to believe doctors are to ask about guns? What in the world has that got to do with Affordable Care Act? And even if they do what being has this to do on healthcare much less gun control. Just more political talking with no real point or result.
17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
Issue a letter to healthcare providers, WOW that’s mouth full. We surely don’t need another useless piece of paper. Healthcare as well as anyone for that matter already has the right and duty to report violence treats to authorities, in fact all firearm injuries are required to be reported. So tell just what a letter will do?
18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.
Good thought, what incentives are talking about? What does it mean, money grants of tax payer money?
19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
Great another fine idea that has already been done. So what agency is going to do this? Those institutions and communities that see and have a need are already doing this so, just what can the Fed’s do? Oh I see more money to do what we are already doing.
20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.
That’s good double speak. now Washington bureaucrat’s are deciding mental health care.
21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
What heck does this mean? Now we are to believe Washington will determine healthcare somehow under a gun control plan.
22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.
Where that come from?
23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.
I just don’t get it. These folks have a job and if you look at their Agencies charter and they did their jobs as per the charter, we wouldn’t need to get side tracked on another study or info program.
Having reviewed each item President Obama presented at the signing of his Actions of Memorandum in response to the Connecticut Shooting, I’m at a loss to understand how it will do anything to prevent or protect anyone. What it looks to be is nothing more than a photo op.
While I’d like to think I’m open minded and may have different views for some, I not open to just accepting laws and rules that are redundant and serve no useful purpose and infringe on all our rights. Some where along the way, we must use common sense and responsibility for our own actions. And when we elect official to office they must first represent all the people in an honest and proper manner. Today it seems like there many corrupt and backroom deals that are in the interest of a few and when things don’t go well it’s always blamed on something or someone else. What happened to honesty and integrity?
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