Gun Control Passage Could Be Tough

Sen. Harry Reid

The president's gun control plan to ban assault weapons is receiving a cool reception on Capitol Hill, even among some in the presidents own party. Moderate Democratic members of Congress who come from states where guns and hunting are a mainstay, Northwest states like the Dakotas, Wyoming, Southern states, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, etc. lean more toward gun rights then gun control. Senator Harry Reid (D) NV, and Senate Majority Leader, has a history of voting for pro-gun legislation and receives good marks from the NRA. Some believe Reid, who was in a tight race for re-election in 2010, would not have retained his seat without the NRA's help. Read More: Some Dems Leary of Gun Plan


Nearly twice as many voters say there would be less violent crime if more law-abiding Americans owned guns, than if guns were banned. Read more: Fox News Poll


Gun advocates say the president is waging a war on the Second Amendment to the Constitution, giving citizens the right to bear arms. Senator Marco Rubio (R) FL. says the President Obama charges won't admit he's against the Second Amendment. Click to View:

It's a guess the president knew banning assault weapons and limiting magazines to 10 rounds would have a tough time passing Congress. That's why he put in the plan the 23 items he signed as executive orders, therefore at least getting something out of the initiative. They are:


1. "Issue a presidential memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system."

Pres. Obama with Vice Pres. Biden Announces Gun Plan

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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. "Nominate an ATF director."

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

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

14. "Issue a presidential memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence."

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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

22. "Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations."

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








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