President Obama's Executive Order... Unveiled.

www.davegranlund.com

I have been eagerly waiting for the gun control new laws that were to be unveiled today by President Obama, after all, they promised it was going to be “the most aggressive and expansive national gun-control agenda in generations."

I was moved by Vice President Joe Biden’s speech, it was very touching. I was also extremely excited to hear the President mention putting a limit of 10 bullets per magazine and banning assault weapons. I was excited to hear that there will be universal background checks and he did mention health somewhere in the equation.

Then I waited and waited to hear all the 23 points that I knew he was signing today… nothing.

I went searching at the White House website and again, nothing. It was on Facebook that someone shared with me the 23 points as published on TPM and my heart sank to the basement. These are the 23 points contained in the Executive Order, you can click Observation to read my opinion:

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system. Observation

2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system. Observation

3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.  Observation

4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.  Observation

5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.  Observation

6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.  Observation

7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.  Observation

8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).  Observation

9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.  Observation

10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.  Observation

11. Nominate an ATF director.  Observation

12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.  Observation

13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.  Observation

14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.  Observation

15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.  Observation

16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.  Observation

17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.  Observation

18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.  Observation

19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.  Observation

20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.  Observation

21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.  Observation

22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.  Observation

23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.  Observation

My question is… Why the need of an Executive Order and the fanfare for the majority of these points? As I see it, most didn’t need an EO. There is no mention about what should be removed from the market; there is no mention about banning, limiting, insurance or testing. Testing should be a must, even police officers must take a psychological test, why not an individual, untrained and armed not be required to pass a psychological test? And why not make mandatory to have liability insurance when car owners are forced to have one?

President Obama is leaving the legalities to Congress which means that nothing will be done. There is no way Republicans in Congress will ban any guns or set a limit on the number of bullets a magazine can hold or dare to do anything that will upset the NRA.

So stay tuned, don’t miss the next massacre coming to a town near you!