Obama wants concrete gun proposals within a month

WASHINGTON - Agence France-

President Barack Obama stands with Vice President Joe Biden as he makes a statement over gun control issue. AP photo

President Barack Obama put ending an “epidemic” of gun violence at the top of his second term agenda late Dec. 19, calling for “concrete” proposals within a month.

“I will be putting forward very specific proposals. I will be talking about them in my State of the Union, and we will be working with interested members of Congress to try to get something done,” Obama said.
The president said the killings of 20 children aged six and seven and six adults in an elementary school last week should give lawmakers a potent incentive for action, even when initial shock fades. “The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing. The fact that we can’t prevent every act of violence doesn’t mean we can’t steadily reduce the violence, and prevent the very worst violence.”

Biden to hold meetings

A new task force that will be led by Vice President Joe Biden was set to meet yesterday over new gun control laws, better mental health access and the impact of violent culture. Obama said he welcomed public support for measures like the banning of assault weapons and also on outlawing the sale of high-capacity ammunition clips. He said a majority of Americans also supported background checks for all gun purchases and signaled an effort to expand mental health care, in an effort to deter psychologically troubled people from turning to mass violence.

“We’re going to need to make access to mental health at least as easy as access to a gun. We’re going to need to look more closely at a culture that, all too often, glorifies guns and violence,” he said. After the shooting tragedy in Connecticut, parents’ anxiety is driving a surge in sales of bullet-proof backpacks, in the hope the armored bags can give their kids a safety edge.