THE BIDEN PLAN TO END OUR GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC

[ancianita]

Joe Biden knows that gun violence is a public health epidemic. Almost 40,000 people die as a result of firearm injuries every year in the United States, and many more are wounded. Some of these deaths and injuries are the result of mass shootings that make national headlines. Others are the result of daily acts of gun violence or suicides that may not make national headlines, but are just as devastating to the families and communities left behind.

Joe Biden has taken on the National Rifle Association (NRA) on the national stage and won – twice. In 1993, he shepherded through Congress the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which established the background check system that has since kept more than 3 million firearms out of dangerous hands. In 1994, Biden – along with Senator Dianne Feinstein – secured the passage of 10-year bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. As president, Joe Biden will defeat the NRA again.

Joe Biden also knows how to make progress on reducing gun violence using executive action. After the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, President Obama tasked Vice President Biden with developing both legislative proposals and executive actions to make our communities safer. As a result of this effort, the Obama-Biden Administration took more than two dozen actions, including narrowing the so-called “gun show loophole,” increasing the number of records in the background check system, and expanding funding for mental health services.

It’s within our grasp to end our gun violence epidemic and respect the Second Amendment, which is limited. As president, Biden will pursue constitutional, common-sense gun safety policies.

Biden will:

Hold gun manufacturers accountable.
In 2005, then-Senator Biden voted against the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, but gun manufacturers successfully lobbied Congress to secure its passage. This law protects these manufacturers from being held civilly liable for their products – a protection granted to no other industry. Biden will prioritize repealing this protection.

Get weapons of war off our streets.
The bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that Biden, along with Senator Feinstein, secured in 1994 reduced the lethality of mass shootings. But, in order to secure the passage of the bans, they had to agree to a 10-year sunset provision and when the time came, the Bush Administration failed to extend them.

As president, Biden will:

Ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Federal law prevents hunters from hunting migratory game birds with more than three shells in their shotgun. That means our federal law does more to protect ducks than children. It’s wrong. Joe Biden will enact legislation to once again ban assault weapons. This time, the bans will be designed based on lessons learned from the 1994 bans. For example, the ban on assault weapons will be designed to prevent manufacturers from circumventing the law by making minor changes that don’t limit the weapon’s lethality. While working to pass this legislation, Biden will also use his executive authority to ban the importation of assault weapons.

Regulate possession of existing assault weapons under the National Firearms Act.
Currently, the National Firearms Act requires individuals possessing machine-guns, silencers, and short-barreled rifles to undergo a background check and register those weapons with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Due to these requirements, such weapons are rarely used in crimes. As president, Biden will pursue legislation to regulate possession of existing assault weapons under the National Firearms Act.

Buy back the assault weapons and high-capacity magazines already in our communities.
Biden will also institute a program to buy back weapons of war currently on our streets. This will give individuals who now possess assault weapons or high-capacity magazines two options: sell the weapons to the government, or register them under the National Firearms Act.

Reduce stockpiling of weapons.
In order to reduce the stockpiling of firearms, Biden supports legislation restricting the number of firearms an individual may purchase per month to one.

Much more at:


https://joebiden.com/gunsafety/

[SoCalDavidS]

1. Great Plan

Sorry Joe, not a snowball's chance in hell of a single item on that list going anywhere.

I like how the statement refers to laws passed in 1993 & 1994. That was then, this is now, and now we're way too far gone for anything close to those ideas gaining traction in the Senate. Or the House for that matter, should Democrats lose the majority in November.

It would be much better if you simply tell people that they should get used to these mass shootings, as you should also settle yourself for more in-person visits with traumatized families of the deceased from gun violence.

[ancianita]

3. It is. And he'll do much of it through the Executive Branch, not the Legislative Branch.

Some of it you're correct about, but some of it he can do by "executive agreement" with, for example, gun manufacturers abroad, like Trump did with oil from the Saudi.

Why do you say

It would be much better if you simply tell people that they should get used to these mass shootings, as you should also settle yourself for more in-person visits with traumatized families of the deceased from gun violence.

There should be no "getting used to" The People's infringement of the First Amendment by the Second Amendment.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

6. There is one thing on that list that can be done via EO

He can ban the importation of guns. Bush 41 already banned a bunch of assault rifles from importation back in 1989. Everything else requires legislation to accomplish. Well, maybe he could do a buyback if he can figure out a way to use already appropriated funds from something else.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. That should read "as President, Biden will beg and plead with Manchin and Sinema to pass..." nt

[ancianita]

4. Or he'll get Chuck to do a carve out?

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

7. Needs Manchin and Sinema to approve a carve out.

If they don't go for it, then the attempt to make a carve out will fail.

[FakeNoose]

8. As President he'll make sure that enough Democrats are elected to the Senate

... so we don't have to BEG and PLEAD with either Manchin or Sinema. F**K them! The Dems will win in November and neither of those evil twins will matter any more.

[TygrBright]

5. Just asked my Senators and Congresscritter to support this plan in its entirety.

One of the Senate staffers said something about 'seeking bipartisan solutions' and it pushed my button.

As nicely as possible I said "President Biden's plan is far beyond any half-assed figleaf that 'bipartisan' messing around could ever accomplish so please tell the Senator to screw bipartisanship and help President Biden with this plan."

The staffer was not at all offended.

appreciatively,
Bright

[kacekwl]

9. Do all you can by presidential order and then some. Let the killer supporters

fight in court and in the open.

[ancianita]

10. Exactly. Also, starting his plan with "a national health threat" opens a door to action. Also,

not for nothing, in NM, they got ahead of the curve, fought lazy police, and denied qualified immunity throughout the whole state.

Because sometimes you've really got to police the police while all this mess isn't even prevented, except for driving, sitting, sleeping, jogging, shopping and worshipping while Black. Or Chicano.

One state, New Mexico, is doing this. The other blue states should, as well, so that police shape up and take the side of their paymasters, not their Guns Over People right wing 'friends.'

[BlueIdaho]

14. If the GQP wants to be the Party of Mass Murder

Let them.

[IronLionZion]

11. Livestream link for his 7:30 speech tonight

https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

[ancianita]

12. Thank you!

I love being able to do this online.

Let's be on the lookout for a transcript of it.

[Zeitghost]

13. How did Bush 43 allow the AWB to expire?

I don't recall Congress ever sending him an extension, the one he pledged to sign. Am I missing something?

[ancianita]

16. He was pressured by Republicans who didn't want to continue the AWB.

"The president doesn't set the Congressional timetable. Congress sets the timetable," then-White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters, who asked what Bush was going to do to get the ban renewed.

Tom DeLay got paid, probably. Led by Tom DeLay, who called the ban "feel-good" legislation, the House failed to bring the legislation to the floor for debate or a vote, PBS reported at the time.

Manufacturers put on the pressure. So much for the tough negotiation Republicans always brag of. After pressure from Smith & Wesson, in 2005 Bush signed legislation providing the gun industry federal protection against lawsuits.

Bush caved. He didn't fight DeLay.

After that it was DC vs Heller decision that made 2A an individual rather than just a 'regulated militia' thing.

Big Gun -- the NRA, manufacturers and foreign (EU) import deal makers -- has since bought Republicans.

[Zeitghost]

20. Pressured to do what?

It was the Republican Congress that failed to act.

[ancianita]

21. Not to fight for the Assault Weapons Ban 10-year sunset clause to be extended. So he caved.

They wouldn't if he'd fought them. But he wouldn't fight them. Even gun owners felt betrayed because he seemed to be on the side of not using military weapons.

[Zeitghost]

25. I guess he could have been a better cheerleader

But the Republicans held both houses for most of the time and they were never going to send one to his desk.

[ancianita]

26. He followed in Reagan's poser footsteps as a tough moderate who caved to the worst of his party.

Having sold out to Big Corps Fossil, Big Pharma and Big Guns, they began the stripping rights and political theater, which was the corporate neoliberal agenda of austerity economics and keeping the People confounded about their turn to fascist bag man rackets and grift.

[Novara]

15. I'm not hearing anything about executive actions

Biden has the authority to take executive actions. Let them sue him afterwards, but DO SOMETHING.

[ancianita]

17. I knew he wouldn't. His plan can press manufacturers, but maybe he doesn't want to tip them off.

His tip also requires 5 kinds of legislation to enact those parts of his plan where you see legislation underlined.

It was reported on Monday that Biden and his advisers might have exhausted their options on executive action to address guns. But they say they continue to explore avenues for unilateral action.

Biden said, "There's the Constitution. I can't dictate this stuff. I can do the things I've done, and any executive action I can take I'll continue to take. But I can't outlaw a weapon, I can't change the background checks. I can't do that."

[Voltaire2]

42. He's pretty much avoided using EOs for anything.

I have no idea what the reasons are, but it is infuriating. Trump built his fucking stupid wall using an EO.

[Evolve Dammit]

18. Re-instate the assault weapons ban that W let expire and start a buy-back like Canada is doing.

Limit the number of purchases, increase background scrutiny, and eliminate the private sale and gun show loopholes. And PS: fuck anyone who doesn't think those are "conservative" measures to take in a country gone insane since the AWB was repealed. "Conservatives" my ass. You are full-on fascists.

[ancianita]

22. The data on no dead children and fewer overall gun deaths might help sell this idea.

[Evolve Dammit]

28. That might be the DNC or MSM job to show the real numbers?

[ancianita]

30. Sure. Unfortunately, DNC campaigns with constant PHOTOS of the carnage of innocents will help, too.

Numbers might matter to some voters, but as we know, not to a Republican Party that will try to nullify popular votes across red states.

This is going to be uphill. We all have to get a good elevator pitch ready for any Republican encounters. Something about how once innocence is mass murdered, 2A has infringed on, NOT protected, 1A.

Personally I like the idea of the DNC selling T shirts with a photo of a dead Uvalde child, and the question above or below it:

Guns Over People (GOP)? Is this the soul of America now?

[Evolve Dammit]

34. I appreciate your ideas. I think the die has been cast and it will be a bloody time. I don't say

that lightly. GOP does not care at all. Not to mention the millions that don't even vote.

[ancianita]

19. Perhaps Laurence Tribe-level scholars can help with legislation that makes sure

gun laws can rightfully control the existence of military assault weapons such that 2A doesn't infringe on the majority of Americans' rights to 1A. The CDC provides national evidence of loss, harm and damage to the publc's health. Not just death, but costs to communities nationwide.

Sandy Hook parents won a suit against a manufacturer, which is a precedent for other suits that need to follow.

If mass shootings continue, there might actually be 37 states that would ratify the rewriting of the Second Amendment.

So I've gotta ask, where are the lawyers for 1A? ACLU?

[Botany]

23. "That means our federal law does more to protect ducks than children."

n/t

[ancianita]

24. Yes. And in allowing the ongoing death of innocence, undoes its own identity as America.

edit: Federal law also gives more bodily autonomy protection to corpses than to girls and women.

[Samrob]

27. No matter what is passed, nothing will matter if failing to ENFORCE the laws is not made a big crime

You can put laws on the books for liability of gun manufactures, waiting periods, raising age limits, banning assault weapons, background checks etc. None of it will matter much if those who have the responsibility for enforcing those laws can just ignore the law with little or no consequence. Stiff criminal charges against retailers, collectors, owners etc. must be a major part of gun regulation laws. How about mandatory minimums for those guilty of violating the law? No consequences means nothing will change.

[ancianita]

29. Exactly. Who polices the police. Who enforces laws. Enforcement has been the real democracy crisis.

All this party of NO, procedural delay, failure to prosecute a criminal president, the mobilization of armed militias, police murders of Blacks, the right wing pro-Republican bias of the FBI, have all become an interlocked gridlock in enforcement from the top down.

[Samrob]

33. All of this!!! nt

[quakerboy]

39. That is a part of the current problem

The hardcore gunners twirl between screaming bloody murder anytime any law enforcement tries to enforce any existing gun law, and then as soon as there's a public shooting, screaming we cant have new gun laws, why wont you just enforce the laws we already have.

[NickB79]

31. Without holding onto the House, gaining a few in the Senate, AND killing the filibuster

All of these are pie in the sky. I don't see a single one that would get to Biden's desk for his signature.

Might as well offer up ponies and Ferrari's if we don't do a serious GOTV effort this fall.

[ancianita]

32. One fight at a time. I hear you. We look good to gain in both houses, imo.

[myohmy2]

35. da plan...

...that's what it is, a plan...

...

[ancianita]

37. Don't be defeatist. Don't be easily discouraged. It takes 81 million of us to do better AGAIN

so they can act.

[myohmy2]

41. don't...

...you find it sad that with all the violent and horrific gun deaths we have regularly in this country that we've made so little headway and progress?

...we must not be very good at communications...

...what's changed?

...

[SunSeeker]

36. "In the last 20 years, more school age kids have died by gun than police and soldiers combined."

Glad he said that fact. It has been an unmitigated carnage of our kids.

Great speech.

[ancianita]

38. We need to lead every speech with that statistic.

Agree. It was a great presidential speech from a great leader.

[J_William_Ryan]

40. It's not being 'defeatist' to acknowledge the truth.

There is no political will in Congress to enact any new firearm regulations.

This is not an issue that generates votes for Democrats, regardless what the opinion polls say.

Republicans will run out to clock until November.