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Omaha Steve

(99,670 posts) Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:58 PM Feb 2013

Obama presses his gun proposals in Minnesota

Source: AP-Excite

By JULIE PACE

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - With his gun proposals dividing Congress, President Barack Obama conceded Monday the challenges he faces in winning support for measures ranging from criminal checks on gun buyers to an assault weapons ban. But, he declared: "We don't have to agree on everything to agree it's time to do something."

Obama argued that there's bipartisan support for universal background checks and for gun trafficking laws. But, acknowledging the political challenges he faces, he would say only that the assault weapons ban deserves a vote in Congress.

"Changing the status quo is never easy," Obama said. "This will be no exception. The only way we can reduce gun violence in this county is if the American people decide it's important, if you decide it's important - parents and teachers, police officers and pastors, hunters and sportsmen, Americans of every background stand up and say, 'This time, it's got to be different.'"

Before his remarks, Obama held a roundtable discussion at the Minneapolis Police Department Special Operations Center, speaking with law enforcement and community leaders.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130204/DA481SF00.html

President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks about his gun violence proposals, Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at the Minneapolis Police Department's Special Operations Center in Minneapolis, where he outlined his plan before law enforcement personnel. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

9 replies

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Obama presses his gun proposals in Minnesota (Original Post) Omaha Steve Feb 2013 OP

NYT - In Minneapolis, Obama Presses Case for Tougher Gun Laws Electric Monk Feb 2013 #1

"In a city once called “Murder-apolis” because of its homicide rate in the 1990s, Jenoch Feb 2013 #8

Holding a vote would create a record of every member's opinion, or refusal to state one slackmaster Feb 2013 #2

My Prediction energumen Feb 2013 #3

Its over for the AWB. aikoaiko Feb 2013 #4

the Senate is too busy to pass a budget, quadrature Feb 2013 #5

I'm for 100% background checks....... rdharma Feb 2013 #6

As am I. nt NickB79 Feb 2013 #9

The lack of a vote or a bill being brought to the floor also sendsca message. Thinkingabout Feb 2013 #7

Electric Monk

(13,869 posts)

1. NYT - In Minneapolis, Obama Presses Case for Tougher Gun Laws

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 08:05 PM

Feb 2013

(snip)

In a city once called “Murder-apolis” because of its homicide rate in the 1990s, the president cited its successful gun violence prevention efforts as evidence that new national laws are needed to reduce the number of shootings across the country.

“The only way we can reduce gun violence in this country is if the American people decide it’s important,” Mr. Obama said, standing in front of a sea of police officers and sheriff’s deputies at the Minneapolis Police Department Special Operations Center.

Mr. Obama has called for Congress to pass a series of measures, including a ban on the manufacture and sale of new assault weapons, limits on high-capacity ammunition magazines and an expansion of the system of criminal background checks that currently covers only about 60 percent of gun sales.

(snip)

The focus on background checks reflects a broad political calculation in Washington that there is more public support for requiring background checks than for limits on guns and ammunition. A recent New York Times/CBS News survey found that 92 percent of those polled supported broader background checks.

The same survey found that 53 percent support a ban on some semiautomatic weapons, and that 63 percent would support limits on magazines.

more
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/us/politics/in-minneapolis-obama-presses-case-for-tougher-gun-laws.html

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)

8. "In a city once called “Murder-apolis” because of its homicide rate in the 1990s,

Reply to Electric Monk (Reply #1)

Tue Feb 5, 2013, 02:53 AM

Feb 2013

the president cited its successful gun violence prevention efforts as evidence that new national laws are needed..."

I wish I knew exactly to what this sentence is refering. Minnesota has a law that no local gun laws can be more strict than state gun laws. The reduction in gun crime in Minneapolis since the mid 1990s had little to do with new gun control laws.

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)

2. Holding a vote would create a record of every member's opinion, or refusal to state one

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 08:09 PM

Feb 2013

And that is one big reason why it won't happen.

energumen

(76 posts)

3. My Prediction

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 08:37 PM

Feb 2013

If it actually comes to a vote.
1) The bill will be written in such a way to be indefensible.
2) Republican, being republicans, will vote against it.
3) Democrats will be more strategic. Those due for election will in 14 will look at the make up of their district and vote accordingly. Those not due for election will most likely vote for.
In any even before the vote is even thought about they will most likely have counted and can be sure it will fail

aikoaiko

(34,174 posts)

4. Its over for the AWB.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 10:04 PM

Feb 2013

It is a benighted attempt to reduce gun violence.

I'm not even sure an independent bill banning >10 mags will come to a vote.

Fortunately, there are other proposals that might actually make a dent in gun violence.