White House Weighs Broad Gun-Control Agenda in Wake of Newtown Shootings

The Washington Post ^ | Saturday, January 5, 2013 | Philip Rucker

[kristinn]

SNIP

A working group led by Vice President Biden is seriously considering measures backed by key law enforcement leaders that would require universal background checks for firearm buyers, track the movement and sale of weapons through a national database, strengthen mental health checks, and stiffen penalties for carrying guns near schools or giving them to minors, the sources said.

To sell such changes, the White House is developing strategies to work around the National Rifle Association that one source said could include rallying support from Wal-Mart and other gun retailers for measures that would benefit their businesses. White House aides have also been in regular contact with advisers to New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (I), an outspoken gun-control advocate who could emerge as a powerful surrogate for the Obama administration’s agenda.

SNIP

In addition to potential legislative proposals, Biden’s group has expanded its focus to include measures that would not need congressional approval and could be quickly implemented by executive action, according to interest-group leaders who have discussed options with Biden and key Cabinet secretaries. Possibilities include changes to federal mental-health programs and modernization of gun-tracking efforts by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

SNIP

Obama’s advisers have calculated that the longer they wait, the more distance there is from the Newtown massacre and the greater the risk that the bipartisan political will to tackle gun violence will dissipate.

“This is not something that I will be putting off,” Obama said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview broadcast last Sunday.

At the White House meeting, Stanek said, “the vice president indicated that there was a very short timeline for him to get back to the president with his recommendations because the American public has a short memory.”

[Blackirish]

When they found out they could force the Catholic Church to buy condoms with the stroke of a pen and no one said a thing. ...you had to know guns were next.

[Resolute Conservative]

My wife has a friend that owns a private security company is of high rank in the guard in one state. He told her that they (guard) were instructed to prepare a training program to prepare to confiscate private firearms. He passed this along as a warning. He also said he gave it its due attention and placed it in file 13.

[expat2]

It’s possible, but 2 or 3 problems with that:.br>
1. That would be too slow for the impatient anti-gun activists,
2. It would be too extreme if they tried to ban any transport; they might try banning manufacture and sale,
tho that would clearly be unconstitutional.
3. This plan would be about as successful as the War on Drugs - which got nowhere in much longer than 25 years.