Obama's gun-control plans — a list so simple, it's stupid

Although the National Rifle Association has already promised an almighty battle against President Obama’s gun-control plans, to the rest of the planet, the list is a no-brainer. Looking in to America from the outside, it’s clear that Obama isn’t going to take all guns from gun-loving Americans. There’s no chance of that ever happening. But a combination of executive orders and proposed legislation could, eventually, improve the safety on US streets. Obama pointed out in his press conference on Wednesday morning, a month after 20 children were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, that around 900 Americans had died in just that time. He signed 23 executive orders to immediately get the ball rolling. The full list, available here is pretty mixed and somewhat vague, but is easily more than what’s been done in recent years, ie nothing. [caption id=“attachment_591260” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] US President Barack Obama, flanked by 8-year old letter writer Hinna Zeejah (L), 10-year old letter writer Taejah Goode (3rd L), 11-year old letter writer Julia Stokes signs executive orders on gun violence during an event at the White House. Reuters[/caption] Some of the items on the list are exceptionally stupid for not having been done years ago. For example, nominating a new head of the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) which hasn’t been filled in years. Reminding doctors that there’s nothing to prevent them asking patients whether there are guns in their homes seems bizarre in even having to state. Requiring “federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system” before guns are bought? Really? So agencies aren’t doing that now? Demanding “federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations”? Sorry? So what are they doing at the moment? Allowing research by the Centers for Disease Control on the causes and prevention of gun violence? Having learned recently that there was a moratorium on such studies, this is a simple act, but astonishing that it even had to be taken. Government preventing research on one of the biggest national causes of death? Stupid. Various measures on mental health are a starting point for an issue that has long gone unaddressed and needs urgent funding and considerable improvement in access to services etc. But Obama would also like to see new legislation to ban, again, assault rifles, limit the number of bullets in ammunition magazines for civilians to 10, and universal background checks for all gun buyers . With Republicans controlling the House of Representatives, and Democrats controlling the Senate, agreement is virtually impossible, particularly on the assault weapon ban, which was hard enough to get in place in 1994. One would wonder, however, how many bullets you need to have in your weapon when firing at children. Surely 10 is enough? And as for background checks, according to the Washington Post report, an estimated 40 percent of all sales are made by private sellers, “who are exempt from a federal requirement to check the buyer’s background”. If you can make those minor changes, your political leaders are stupid. But because this is America, nobody is happy with the proposals — they either go too far, or not far enough. We can judge Obama for not doing anything on this subject four years ago, but there’s little point. The past is the past. Going forward, history will judge Obama and other politicians by their actions on gun control, and if they actually make a difference. Surely, there’s been enough gun deaths in the country that it would be stupid not to try.