“President Obama’s series of gun control measures amount to an executive power grab that may please his political base but will not solve the problems at hand. He paid lip service to our fundamental constitutional rights, but took actions that disregard the 2nd Amendment and the legislative process. Representative government is meant to give voice to the people; President Obama’s unilateral executive action ignores this principle,” said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.
“Instead, we need to work together to find real solutions – many of which do not come from the federal government – that help protect our children and communities while also being firm in protecting Americans’ constitutional rights.”
While there's no question it's pleased his base-I'm toweling myself off furiously as we speak it's interesting what constitutes a "power grab." Trying to respond to a terrible tragedy that has become all too common in our country in recent years.
I also beg to differ: it will have a meaningful impact, certainly more than anything Reince Priebus has suggested-last I heard he's suggested nothing except the GOP answer to everything-do nothing, sit there, and make pretty speeches about 'guns don't kill people, people kill people.'
On the other hand, no doubt the base is pleased:
"Make no mistake about it — President Obama is serious about reducing gun violence and is willing to take on the the powerful gun lobby to do it."
"If you need evidence, just look to the response from a gun control community that has spent years on the political sidelines to Obama’s emotional speech Wednesday at the White House."
“We are extremely happy both with his report and with the remarks he gave at the White House press conference that just concluded,” Ladd Everitt, spokesperson for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, told TPM minutes after Obama finished outlining his plans."
“The executive order he signed today is critically important and, in conjunction with the legislative package he has referred to Congress, could put our nation on a path to a place where days like December 14, 2012 will no longer be possible,” Everitt said, referring to the date of the Newtown shooting."
"The Brady Campaign, one of the nation’s oldest gun control advocacy groups, was also effusive after Obama’s remarks."
“The White House has shown tremendous leadership in convening stakeholders and engaging the country in a conversation that the Brady Campaign and so many Americans have been calling for in the wake of Aurora, Newtown, and the 32 gun murders that happen every day in our country,” Brady president Dan Gross said in a statement."
"The National Rifle Association has already made clear its feelings about Obama’s gun violence plans, releasing lobbyists on Capitol Hill to kill Obama’s call for a ban on high capacity magazines and a new version of the ban on so-called assault weapons. The NRA launched a TV ad Tuesday that called Obama an “elitist hypocrite” on guns because his daughters have armed security at school.
Among the proposals announced by Obama announced Wednesday: federal money schools could use to hire armed officers."
"The White House response to the NRA ad was a further indication that Obama intends to take on the NRA and gun lobby as he tries to reduce gun violence."
“To go so far as to make the safety of the President’s children the subject of an attack ad is repugnant and cowardly,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement."
No doubt the NRA's tactics are ugly and repugnant not to mention cowardly. The contrast with the President couldn't be more stark in terms of which side is arguing in good faith. The NRA should fire the person who came up with that ad, and the person who's handled their pr since Sandy Hook. Their total lack of circumspection speaks volumes.
Again, my prediction: we get meaningful gun control It goes back to the Kristol Premise: elections have consequences. As do terrible tragedies where first graders are shot down in their classroom with assault weapons the NRA is fighting tooth an nail to keep legal.
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