Good for Obama for new action on gun violence
Barb ShellyPresident Barack Obama announced today that his vice president, Joe Biden, cabinet members and groups outside government will be working on recommendations to curb gun violence. Obama said he expects a report “no later than January” and vowed to “push (the proposals) without delay.”
The president did not limit his call for action to the mass shootings that receive so much media and public attention. He broadened his message to include “the lesser known tragedies that visit small towns and big cities all across America every day.”
Obama then cited a few examples, two of which have occurred within the past few days in the Kansas City region. He mentioned the two police officers fatally shot outside of a grocery store in Topeka. And he talked about Aydan Perea, the 4-year-old Kansas City boy who was taken off of life support Tuesday, dead after being shot while sitting in his car seat in the back of his father’s car.
I welcome this broader approach. The shootings in urban areas, and Kansas City in particular go on and on and sometimes we make the mistake of thinking nothing can be done. Now we have the president of the United States saying that there are things we can do, as communities and as a nation, and pledging to put the power and prestige of his office behind those ideas.
If he lives up to that pledge, he will do the nation, and its children, a great service.
Also from the president:
“I’m not going to be able to do it by myself. Ultimately, if this effort is to succeed, it’s going to require the help of the American people. It’s gonna require all of you. If we’re going to change things, it’s going to take a wave of Americans — mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, pastors, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and, yes, gun owners — standing up and saying, enough on behalf of our kids.”
Ruby Hahn Leuthen
6 months agoToday there will be aporoximately 2000 un born babies killed. That happens every day in the United States. Where are you on this issue?
JR Beillenhouser
6 months agoAbortion is her god Ruby. It is the god of all progressives.
Not a single restriction can be placed on Abortion. But guns is a different story.
Mark Robertson
6 months agoActually, it is more like 3,000 babies murdered every day in the U.S. A 9-11 every day. And yes, we all know Obama is sincere. Has he ever solved or even dealt with a problem. He is all manipulation all the time. Once again, killers do not obey gun laws. Suggested reading: More Guns, Less Crime, by John Lott. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence
Phil Cardarella
6 months agoIt is interesting the extent to which some folks are so focused on fetuses and zygotes — the “unborn” — that they have no interest in protecting those children who have actually been born. Especially if it inconveniences their gun-toting fantasies.
FYI, even if Mr. Lot’s book were not otherwise riddled with inaccuracies both factual and logical, I do not think he offers an answer to PREVENTING these attacks, just engaging in a gun battle during them.
In this whole debate, I have yet to hear WHY anyone needs an AK and a 30-100 round magazine for any lawful purpose — other than the sheer joy of hearing BANG! BANG!BANG! 80 times a minute. So many dead children seems a steep price for the same kick you can get from a string of fireworks.
Mark Hastert
6 months ago“Suggested reading: More Guns, Less Crime, by John Lott”
Interesting thing about Mr Lott’s work He published his book, made a lot of money but under peer review his methodologies and conclusions were called into question. Questions he’s not answered.
As for abortion, what some of you are calling “babies” others would call a cluster of undifferentiated cells. A fertilized egg is not a child. Your belief is based purely on your particular religious doctrine. One not even universally shared by all Christians. The slaughtered school children on the other hand were living breathing children of God. You seem to place a higher value on the guns that killed them.
Stephen Platt
6 months agoIn our urban area there have been 142 homicides. 112 have been with firearms; in 87 of those cases the victims were black. Jason Whitlock blamed the “gun culture”. Every firearm is an assualt weapon. Gun culture is different however from gun control. If our leaders can figure out how to determine who is violent and mentally ill before the crime occurs then the problem is solved.
Mark Hastert
6 months agoWe need to stop letting the NRA control this debate. They always use the term “right to bear arms” and refer to it a being “enshrined”. There is not thing sacred about high capacity deadly weapons, nothing patriotic about armor piercing ammunition. No right is unconditional under our constitution. Our politicians need to grow some balls and stand up for common sense. The NRA is nothing but a phony front for gun manufacturers. It’s all avarice.
We do need better services for mental illness. Lets tax the hell out of guns & ammo to pay for it. But insofar as I’ve read the shooter didn’t have an official medical diagnosis and was, up til the lat moment, a law abiding citizen. The Bushmaster .223 made it possible for him to slaughter 26 people is minutes.
Mark Pontius
6 months agowhat exactly about “the peoples right to bear arms shall not be infringed” needs to be interpreted? you can be killed with a ball point pen or a rock or a truck or chainsaw or ax or a knife shall we get it over and ban everything? did you know the same day as the shooting 20 children were stabbed to death? wonder why that didnt make news
JR Beillenhouser
6 months ago“A fertilized egg is not a child”. It is human, in the earliest form.
And since you libs want no limits on abortion, you can essentially kill the baby hours before it is born.
And Phil, there is no question that this is a tragedy, but by comparison over 3000 abortions are performed daily. This number dwarfs any gun deaths, but your side is silent. And you want one side legislated but nothing for the other.
Mark Hastert
6 months ago“did you know the same day as the shooting 20 children were stabbed to death?”
…No and apparently neither do you, it didn’t happen. According to CNN reports they were wounded, none killed. Now if he’d had an assault rifle with hundreds of rounds?
“It is human, in the earliest form.”
….and not “a human” as certain religious beliefs would claim. Equating the two is a false comparison. It’s not a matter of silence. it’s an entirely different discussion. The gun kooks are merely obfuscating by trying to equate the two.
We have a long continuous history of limiting 2nd amendment rights. It has never been unfettered and never will be. How can you guys be so vehement and unaware of the facts at the same time?
JR Beillenhouser
6 months agoIn much the same way that you want no restrictions on Abortion. If you fail to get this point, then you might want to go back to Avila and take some reading comprehension, because it appears you missed that the first time.
Mark Robertson
6 months agoSo Mark H., when is a “child” a child? Is she a child the day before birth? Is she a child 5 minutes before birth? Is she a child during birth? Is she a child if she is trying to be killed, but survives?(See Obama trashing the Infants Born Alive Act)When is an acorn an Oak Tree? Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence
Mark Robertson
6 months agoYes, that was sure “compassionate” of that guy in China to use a knife instead of a gun. He “no doubt” thought about that before he attacked the children. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence