Posted on 12/24/2012 9:59:27 PM PST by Red Steel
With President Obama’s announcement of a commission to study and recommend ways to reduce gun violence, the two most important Democrats in government — Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — have both indicated a desire to slow the momentum toward gun control in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut school shootings. The president’s decision to appoint a blue-ribbon panel — the classic Washington ploy to defuse and delay consideration of an issue — along with Reid’s inaction on the gun question will undoubtedly frustrate many in their party who want immediate action.
Obama seemed to anticipate that frustration when he announced the creation of the commission, to be headed by Vice President Joe Biden, in the White House briefing room Wednesday morning. “This is not some Washington commission,” Obama said. “This is not something where folks are going to be studying the issue for six months and publishing a report that gets read and then pushed aside.” To stress his determination, Obama said the Biden Commission must report its findings in January. Its task, he said, is “to pull together real reforms right now.”
Obama’s move will likely dissipate the energy behind gun control advocacy on Capitol Hill. It’s unlikely that even the most pro-gun-control Democrats would want to get out in front of the Biden Commission and pass specific measures. And the political world, and the emotional intensity behind the gun issue, could be quite different even a month from now. So Obama is stopping Democratic momentum, and he knows it. Republicans know it, too. “The creation of a commission is by definition an effort to freeze in place whatever object it seeks to examine,” says one senior Republican Senate aide.
Reid apparently wants the same thing. Meeting reporters Tuesday, Reid made clear that he does not intend to do much of anything on the gun issue. Asked “what gun control measures would you support going forward?” Reid’s answer was a study in saying nothing:
REID: I watched the prayers, I watched everything that took place in Connecticut Sunday night. No one law can erase evil; that’s what the president said, and he’s right. But we need to accept the reality that we’re not doing enough to protect our citizens. I’m very happy that the president’s going to do everything he can administratively. We must engage on a thoughtful debate about how to change laws and culture that allow violence not continue to grow. Every idea should be on the table as we discuss how best to keep our children safe.
QUESTION: Can you speak specifically [about any] particular gun control measure?
REID: No. No, I’ve been very clear here. I think we have to have a full discussion.
Reid is not alone among Democrats. Although there has been much press coverage of some in the party, among them West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, who appear to have softened on gun legislation, there are others who most definitely have not. “I’m going to be one of the more cautious (ones) about doing anything on new gun laws,” Alaska Democratic Sen. Mark Begich told the Anchorage Daily News. “I want to be careful that we just don’t start throwing new laws on the books, driven by emotion, when we need to refocus on this whole issue.” Begich told the paper he preferred to concentrate on the mental illness involved in recent shootings.
In the days since the Newtown killings, many Democrats and their supporters in the press have expressed a desire to enact “meaningful” gun control as soon as possible. In two brief statements, President Obama and Harry Reid have poured some very cold water on those hopes.
Hmmmm?
ROTFL! One word. UNIONS! Every union creep I know has an Obama/Biden bumper sticker on one side of the bumper of their pickup and an "I'm The NRA And I Vote!" bumper sticker on the other side. Go for it boys! You Democrats will need more foreign donations next time than you needed for all of the last three elections put together.
Sounds like some Dems are starting to wonder if it is worth throwing away their entire liberal agenda so that Dianne Feinstein can win her personal crusade of banning assault rifles, a ban Democrats know in their hearts will have no impact whatsoever on violent crime.
They are caught by their own hypocrisy.
As it turns out, the Sidwell Friends School where The Usurper sends his kids has now AND HAS ALWAYS HAD 11 (Yup! ELEVEN) full time armed guards on staff.
Kinda takes the wind out of criticizing Wayne LaPierre, eh?
In addition, The Usurper and Holder are in the process of trying to streamline and ease the restrictions on immigrants (of the documented variety) buying guns.
If they don’t defuse this thing, they will be hoisted on their own petard.
Links to both stories here -
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2972040/posts
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2971888/posts
maybe Harry and Hussein have been reading how busy the gun shops and swap shops, and ammo shops are BUSY SELLING...
of course they have to be careful who they upset..
Just waiting for the EO’s and stronger regs from EPA.
Maybe BATF could just limit who can by guns by pure dicta.
I’m buying lowers next week and I’ll put em together later. Johnny Cash style....
I have kept quiet on this, but I’ve been secretly hoping that the liberals go full-bore gun-control mode.
Must have gotten in the preliminary sales figures for last week…
Begich of all people knows it’ll end his career in DC. Alaskans will throw him outta office in 2014 quicker than photo radar did to him in the 90’s. Heck back then, the state up here even made cameras illegal; people were shooting them out with 22s in Anch. Begich knows if no gun control comes down the line; he’ll get re-elected. Gun control happens he’ll get booted from office. We don’t even have concealed carry permits up here; everybody is armed.
#1. Simply, I don’t believe either one of them.
They have waited too long for an excuse like this
to let it go to waste.
#2. Any discussion of arms control is
against the constitution.
#3. “Shall not be infringed!”
infringed = encroached upon in any way.
I went to Stockton High in Stockton, CA for six months and they had a police station on site, next to the cafeteria.
They made a difference and were on station many times when it counted and cops in cars were miles away.
That was 1977.
“Just waiting for the EO’s and stronger regs from EPA.
Maybe BATF could just limit who can by guns by pure dicta.
I’m buying lowers next week and I’ll put em together later. Johnny Cash style....”
Sorry to say, but you’re about a week late to that party. Lowers, stripped and otherwise have been about as existsnt as a violent crime at a gun show since last Saturday. If you do find any, you better grab them. But be prepared to pay double the regular price at minimum.
This means they’re going to screw us slowly with regulations and rules from the EPA or the ATF.
Damn' straight!
Obama's been re-elected already. He's not worried about his own political support and he doesn't seem the type to worry about anyone else's.
His history shows him to be all about going as far left as he can as quickly as he can. He's never had any negative consequences in life and doesn't expect that he ever will.
Chicago's Pointless Handgun Ban
Snip: One problem is that the bans didn't actually have any discernible effect on the availability of guns to people with felonious intent. As with drugs and hookers, when there is a demand for guns, there will always be a supply.
Who places the highest value on owning a firearm? Criminals. Who is least likely to fear being prosecuted for violating the law? Criminals. Who is most likely to have access to illicit dealers? You guessed it.
Chicago Violence Scoreboard 12/23/12
520 Homicides
2,623 Shootings
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