Our voices were heard. The system works.
Posted: 16 Jan 2013 06:10 pm Post subject:
Our voices were heard. The system works.
1. "Issue a presidential memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system."
Perform task that should have been implemented and obvious from the start. They needed 20+ mass shootings and meetings with the NRA to realize this?
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."
Fix broken laws and address the waste that encompasses them. Glad nobody had to die for them to address this
3. "Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system."
So, we need to bribe the states to do their jobs?
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."
I see this as a problem, because it assumes mentally ill people are more likely to be violent and commit murder, but moreso that it now adds the possibility of other "categories", and if you have imagination, that means you can see they might assume anyone here who is upset with the government could be categorized as 'dangerous'; including those of you who claim the government is trying to take your guns
5. "Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun."
This makes little sense- "propose rulemaking" infers that they are not following guidelines, therefore rules are needed; but then goes on to say "the ability to run a full..." which infers that they are currently unable to do so. Which is it? Can't be both!
6. "Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers."
How about taking off the kid gloves. You shouldn't own a gun store if you are unable by ignorance or stupidity, be able to run a simple background check and follow the appropriate laws on waiting periods and denials. Anyone who fails should get jail time and have their business shut down. I guess the NRA won on this one.
7. "Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign."
I sure as hell hope that gun owners and stores plan to finance this, as I shouldn't have to pay for something that we shouldn't need in the first place.. Not to say we don't need it, but if we got rid of the guns, there'd be no reason for it.
8. "Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission)."
Well.. DUH! Should have been regulated a long time ago.
9. "Issue a presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations."
And yet another thing they should have been doing all along. I'd bet most americans just assumed they were already doing this.
10. "Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement."
See answer #9 again.
11. "Nominate an ATF director."
I'm inclined to believe that it's current status as a department under the DoJ is a better way. How about we make the DoJ DO THEIR JOBS? Isn't that a better idea?
12. "Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations."
Yes, Yes, and WHA?! no amount of training will change the way a bunch of fat, unarmed slobs handle an "active shooter situation". They will all hide under their desks and pray, or end up dead, just like all the others. Arming them would likely be as effective as the columbine security guards, with exception that more kids might get hit with friendly fire. I don't know how to address this one, but acting on fear and training people to live in fear doesn't seem like the answer.
13. "Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime."
13 IS an unlucky number it seems, because that's the most pathetic and stupid thing I've read so far today. Of course we should be maximizing our efforts.. did that really need to be said??
14. "Issue a presidential memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence."
And while we're at it, why not Have the ATF research the causes and prevention of E-coli bacteria?! The ATF and it's parent, the DoJ should be doing this, not the CDC.. this is now struggling to beat #13 for stupidity.. I think it may have won
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."
Make sure that school shooter is safely using his guns to mow down kids? Brilliant!
16. "Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes."
Because someone with mental illness (knowing they will take his/her guns), or a criminal cannot possibly lie to their doctor when asked...
seriously?
17. "Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities."
No law, but the medical agency that licenses them to practice DOES prohibit them from breaking patient confidentiality. There's already standards in place to report threats of all types, so this looks more like a fishing expedition, where the government will spell out what a "threat" is, that will most likely include anyone with anxiety or stress; which is basically most people.
18. "Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers."
Say what?
19. "Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education."
We have DR plans.. (disaster recovery).. for those not familiar, it's basically a plan to clean up various types of messes such as hurricanes, explosions, forest fires, total loss, etc. There's no corporate plan for what to do DURING those events, other than to get to safety. Do we really need a plan that says: In case of a shooting, remain calm, dodge the bullets if you can, hold your hand in a fake gun style like you were playing cops and robbers and maybe the gunman will be faked into retreating.. really, this idea looks equally as stupid as theirs.
20. "Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover."
But make no commitments or even vague implications of adding more to the current list
21. "Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges."
Finish something that is unfinished?
22. "Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations."
again?
23. "Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health."
another empty "point".
You will notice most of my talking points are both pro and anti gun. I'm anti-stupidity more than anything else, and this "guideline" is so stupid my IQ dropped. Is this what "compromise" looks like these days? Frankly it looks like a half-hearted-feel-good-attempt, while actually doing very little, possibly the most minimalist effort to address the problem possible.
I expected at least something more than this pile of rubbish.