US gun measures face tough road ahead
2013-01-17 17:49
Washington - President Barack Obama's sweeping
gun-control package faces an uncertain future in Congress, where majority
Republicans in the House of Representatives are rejecting his proposals, while
the president's allies in the Democratic-controlled Senate are stopping well
short of pledging immediate action.
Obama's plan marks the most comprehensive effort to
tighten gun laws in nearly two decades as he tries to build on the high
emotions over last month's school shooting in Connecticut, where a gunman with
a legally purchased high-powered rifle killed 20 children and six adults.
Obama has called that day the worst of his presidency.
The president's announcement on Wednesday appealed to
both common sense and conscience, but frustrated observers of Congress say the
growing partisan divide is little swayed by either.
"To make a real and lasting difference, Congress
must act," Obama said. "And Congress must act soon."
Obama must try to push through an assault weapons ban and
other sensitive measures through a Congress that is already busy preparing for
fights over three looming fiscal deadlines and a debate over comprehensive
immigration reform.
The country's most powerful pro-gun lobby, the National
Rifle Association (NRA), is already rejecting many of Obama's proposals as it
insists on an absolute reading of the Constitution's Second
Amendment-guaranteed right to possess and bear firearms.
The group, which also represents a gun industry that
since the Civil War has promoted a national gun culture, has long warned gun
owners that Obama wants to take their guns away.
Critics counter that the country's founding fathers never
could have foreseen assault weapons more than two centuries ago, when guns were
intended for the common, not individual, defence, guns were often stored in
community areas and rifles fired one shot at a time.
Background checks
The head of the NRA on Thursday morning said the organisation
has no problem with tighter background checks of gun purchasers, another key
Obama proposal.
But David Keene told CBS that too much emphasis has been
placed on banning certain firearms and said officials should focus instead on
the "devastatingly broken mental health system in this country”.
The fate of Obama's gun plan could ultimately hinge on a
handful of moderate Democratic senators. Although they are unlikely to endorse
the president's call for banning assault weapons, they might go along with
other proposals, such as requiring universal background checks on gun purchases
and limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds or less.
Several of these senators responded warily after Obama
unveiled his proposals.
"I will look closely at all proposals on the table,
but we must use common sense and respect our Constitution," said Senator Jon Tester.
The Democrat told the Missoulian newspaper in his home
state recently that he supports background checks but doesn't think an assault
weapons ban would have stopped the Connecticut shootings.
Seeking to circumvent at least some opposition in
Congress, Obama signed 23 executive actions on Wednesday that don't require lawmakers'
approval, including orders to make more federal data available for background
checks and end a freeze on government research on gun violence.
But he acknowledged that the steps he took on his own
would have less impact than the broad measures requiring approval from
Congress.
"I will put everything I've got into this, and so
will Joe," the president said, referring to his vice president. "But
I tell you, the only way we can change is if the American people demand
it."
Passing of the bill
Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have
made clear they'll wait for the Senate to act first, since they see no need to
move on the contentious topic if it doesn't.
"House committees of jurisdiction will review these
recommendations. And if the Senate passes a bill, we will also take a look at
that," said Michael Steel, spokesperson for House Speaker John Boehner.
Many rank-and-file Republicans criticised Obama's
proposal.
"The right to bear arms is a right, despite
President Obama's disdain for the Second Amendment," said Republican Tim
Huelskamp.
Senators are expected to begin discussions on how to
proceed when they return to Washington next week from a congressional recess,
according to a Democratic leadership aide who requested anonymity to discuss
internal deliberations.
They could end up breaking the president's proposals into
individual pieces, with votes possibly starting next month.
While the assault weapons ban is seen as having little if
any chance of passage, support may coalesce behind requiring universal
background checks, which is a top priority for advocacy groups that see it as
the most important step to curbing gun crimes.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence says 40% of
gun sales are conducted with no criminal background checks, such as in some
instances at gun shows or by private sellers over the Internet. Obama would
seek to require checks for all sales.
Supporting the bill
Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, already has sponsored
a bill to require universal background checks that the Senate could take up,
while Senator Frank Lautenberg, another Democrat, has legislation banning
ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat and gun-rights
backer who's been supported by the NRA in the past, responded cautiously,
saying he was committed to ensuring the Senate considers legislation on gun
violence early this year. He didn't endorse any of Obama's proposals.
Despite the uncertainty in Congress and opposition from
the powerful NRA, outside groups are encouraged by polling showing public
support for change.
A lopsided 84% of Americans back broader background
checks, according to a new AP -GfK poll. Nearly six in 10 Americans want
stricter gun laws, the same poll showed, with majorities favouring a nationwide
ban on military-style weapons.
"Now it's up to us," said Dan Gross, president
of the Brady Campaign. He said his group would be working "to bring that
voice to bear in this process, because without that it's not going to happen”.
- AP
