Obama's plan for curbing gun violence

2013-01-16 22:07

Washington - Proposals for curbing gun violence announced on Wednesday by US President Barack Obama.

NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL ACTION:

— Requiring background checks on all gun sales. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence says 40% of gun sales are conducted with no criminal background check, such as at gun shows and by private sellers over the Internet or through classified ads.

Obama said there should be exceptions for cases like certain transfers among family members and temporary transfers for hunting purposes.

— Reinstating the assault weapons ban. A 10-year ban on high-grade, military-style weapons expired in 2004. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says such a ban might clear the Senate but doubts it could get through the House.

— Renewing a 10-round limit on the size of ammunition magazines.

— Prohibiting the possession, transfer, manufacture and import of dangerous armour-piercing bullets.

— Senate confirmation of a director for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The agency has been run by an acting director, Todd Jones, whom Obama will nominate to become director.

— New gun trafficking laws penalising people who help criminals get guns.

EXECUTIVE ORDER:

— Address legal barriers in health laws that bar some states from making available information about people who are prohibited from having guns.

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

— Make sure that federal agencies share relevant information with the background check system.

— Direct the attorney general to work with other agencies to review existing laws to make sure they can identify individuals who shouldn't have access to guns.

— Direct the centres for disease control and prevention and other agencies to conduct research into the causes and prevention of gun violence.

— Clarify that no federal law prohibits doctors or other health care providers from contacting authorities when patients threaten to use violence.

— Give local communities the opportunity to hire up to 1 000 school resource officers and counsellors.

— Require federal law enforcement to trace all recovered guns.

— Propose regulations that will enable law enforcement to run complete background checks before returning firearms that have been seized.

— Direct the justice department to analyse information on lost and stolen guns and make that information available to law enforcement.

— Provide training for state and local law enforcement, first responders and school officials on how to handle active-shooter situations.

— Make sure every school has a comprehensive emergency management plan.

— Help ensure that young people get needed mental health treatment.

— Ensure that health insurance plans cover mental health benefits.

— Encourage development of new technology to make it easier for gun owners to safely use and store their guns.

— Have the consumer product safety commission assess the need for new safety standards for gun locks and gun safes.

— Launch a national campaign about responsible gun ownership.

- AP