ABOVE PHOTO: President Barack Obama meets with representatives from Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs Association in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Washington, to discuss policies put forward by President Obama to reduce gun violence. From left are U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau and Hennepin County Minnesota Sheriff Richard W. Stanek.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
By Zenitha Prince
Special to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspaper
The White House’s proposal to curb violent gun-related crime has provoked conservatives into a state of near-apoplexy, with at least one Republican House member suggesting he would bring impeachment proceedings against the president.
On Jan. 16, President Obama announced several legislative proposals and 23 executive actions after a month-long review process led by Vice President Joe Biden.
The president recommended that Congress approve requiring universal background checks for all gun sales, restoring a ban on military-style assault weapons, establishing a 10-round limit for ammunition magazines, implementing a federal gun trafficking statute, allocating funds to hire more police officers, providing mental health services in schools and more.
He also announced several executive actions that will be taken immediately, including: strengthening the background check system, helping schools to hire more resource officers and develop emergency preparedness plans and directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research the causes of gun violence and ways to prevent it.
“I intend to use whatever weight this office holds to make them a reality,” the president said. “If there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then we’ve got an obligation to try.”
It seems some Republicans are equally devoted to defeating the president’s proposals, which they say encroaches on the constitutional right to bear arms.
“I will seek legislation overturning the Orders. I will seek legislation barring funds to enforce the Orders. I will seek legislation to cut White House funding should the President issue and enforce such Orders. I will support legal efforts to overturn the Orders in court,” vowed Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas). And, he added, if those measures fail, “I will consider speaking with my colleagues and filing articles of impeachment.”
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