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EXECUTIVE ACTION

Biden: Obama May Bypass Congress On Guns

White House considering executive order to clamp down on firearms

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by David Mark

Editor-in-Chief t

Image: AP.

Why worry about that pesky Congress when the White House can take action on its own? Vice President Joe Biden essentially said as much Wednesday in suggesting President Barack Obama might use an executive order to deal with guns.

"The president is going to act," said Biden, giving some comments to the press before a meeting with victims of gun violence. "There are executives orders, there's executive action that can be taken. We haven't decided what that is yet. But we're compiling it all with the help of the attorney general and the rest of the cabinet members as well as legislative action that we believe is required."

President Obama vowed last month that a new task force overseen by Biden will provide "concrete proposals" by the end of January to reduce gun violence. The group, which includes an array of Cabinet members and government officials, was established in the wake of the massacre in Newtown, CT, that left 27 people dead - 20 of them elementary school children.

Via The Weekly Standard.

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Would President Obama be justified issuing executive orders to ban guns if Congress won’t act?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • martydotcom
    !
    Proflic single handed right wing spin machine:

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  • o
    Mogal
    !
    @Realthinker I certainly do NOT believe the headline came out of Bidens mouth.
    Journalism 101: If you cant get readers attention with a headline, you've lost a sale.
  • o
    Mogal
    !
    @Realthinker This is what he said; " He said the administration is considering its own executive action as well as measures by Congress, but he didn't offer specifics."
    Nowhere in that article does it state that Obama is definitely going to issue an executive order, as the headline of the Weekly Standard article published here on Politix is implying.

  • View all 51 replies >

  • PoliticalSpice
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    I keep reading threats of civil wad. You guys are like politicians. Always making promises you don't keep. Get to it already, will ya? I can not wait to see what happens to thousands of right wingers taking up arms against the u.s. Be the best application of post birth arbortion I can ever imagine.
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    Sillpchs
    !
    @PoliticalSpice Well I think strong gun laws by the executive branch are a bit more likely to start a civil war than a few things about healthcare since it would be a complete bypass of congress to take away rights. And I'm not one of those people always threatening civil war, but I'm sure this would push us into one. So when it happens will you please back Obama 100%? Since you obviously don't think we follow through.

  • View all 66 replies >

  • u
    Clarke12
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    I may be wrong, but it feels like the admin has already decided what it is going to do - and that is use executive order to do what they want done. After the meetings with pro-gun groups tomorrow, do not be surprised if press reports come out about how uncooperative these groups were in "negotiations".
  • PNWest
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    Why would Obama "negotiate" with the NRA? It is nice of him to even invite them to the white house to have their opinions heard. He doesn't need to.
  • u
    CaryNickel
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    @PNWest Because once the NRA, and other groups that fight for our Constitutional rights, get fully in gear on this issue, Obama's second term will be toast. You thought mid-term elections during Obama's first term were a rout? Wait until Americans literally get "up in arms" over this. I know a lot of gun-toting Democrats who don't have a problem with Obama's socialized medicine, but who will not stand for Obama blatantly stripping us of our rights by dictatorial fiat.
  • u
    mtkopf
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    @CaryNickel 74% of the NRA members support laws removing gun show loophole. When the NRA and other gun lobbies start representing the actual MEMBERSHIP instead of the MANUFACTURER, then this country might see sensible gun laws.
    The NRA had their chance to take a leadership position in the wake of the SH tragedy. Instead, the NRA chose to deflect, once again, all blame from the gun industry. When the govt outlaws your favorite weapons, just think back to that last sentence and wonder "what would have happened if...?"
  • PoliticalSpice
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    It is outragous how they are violating the second amendment. Why, as a citizen, is Obama infringing on my right to possess an atomic bomb...
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    kathyparsell
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    @PoliticalSpice
    Oh my, there is so much I could say about the challenges you have been making, however, allow me to present you with a question instead. Forget which amendment we are talking about and then imagine the President bypassing Congress & the people by using executive order to change the Constitution?
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @kathyparsell I respect you so I'll try to put this in context. The bottom line here isthat the use of an executive order means several things: First, he is signaling he does not want to take it to congress-in other words he would rather not fight for new gun control legislation; second, he is confining himself to interpretting an enforcing existing laws on the books; third, whatever he is doing is far easier to challenge in court; fourth, whatever he is doing can be undone by another administration; fifth it is a way to placate those who want gun control without doing anything about it.

    This is a signal those opposed to gun control have won this battle. Instead of understanding that they get all crazy.

    As to repealing the constitution, that already happened. It's called the Patriot Act.

  • View all 20 replies >

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    Mogal
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    @PoliticalSpice -I'm really disappointed with this site that they would run such a blatantly untrue piece. But then again, they're doing it to drive traffic to this site, of which Gannett owns the majority stock.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @Mogal well that and forment discussion, but its truley overkill. If they published just the word gun, with nothing else, they would get flooded with paraniod postings by this crowd. I happen to be pro-second amendment, but to the sverage person hearing angry paraniod statements from all these gun nuts, is just what it takes to get public opinion behind stricter gun control. As to the article, easy enough to decipher. The administration intends to work with treasury dept to interpret existing law to futher control and restriction based on tougher enforcement. This actually sounds like obama is backing off on trying to pass tougher legislation. These people are going to be complaining when it looks like they are winning this particular fight...they just are not analytical enough to figure that out.
  • o
    Mogal
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    @PoliticalSpice Succinct analysis on all levels. I am also pro-second amendment, but some of the delusional ravers-on give me pause. Especially when they dont even pause to actually read what has been written, as evidenced by this thread already.
  • u
    IMAQT
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    @Mogal " Especially when they dont even pause to actually read what has been written, as evidenced by this thread already." What part of " Biden: Obama May Bypass Congress On Guns White House considering executive order to clamp down on firearms" is everybody not reading or understanding? Perhaps the problem is not the readers but rather the writers.

  • View all 12 replies >

  • drpeeper
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    Banning guns? Yeah, that will work. Anyone remember Prohibition? And I am sure every car jacking, gang banger will just give up their guns and blow fairy dust all over.
  • DerivePI
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    Obama can bypass Congress on guns all he wants. The president may not.

    Can anyone point to other times in history where a legislative body has surrendered its authority to the executive?
  • ram84
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    You are absolutely correct and as forits the high capacity clip/magazine issue it doesn't matter if a person has 5 mags capable of holding 5-10 rounds or on with 25 its all a Sam to get guns out of the hands of people nationwide....why don't they ever go after people in gang neighborhoods and take there weapons?
  • ram84
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    @ram84 wow upon review I really shouldn't type in a car haha alot of errors ...as for....scam ...lastly the word one. There's the corrections.
  • marine1
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    @ram84 where do you think these jokers get a lot of their votes from?Never go after the blood suckers when you live in leatchville.
  • jessejaymes
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    While I'm not against registering my AR-15 (again) and I'm not against large clips being banned this would be a foolish step for Obama to take and a bad step for the Dem party. Political capital is to be made by trying to get congress (the House) to pass the laws and when the GOP house won't, it's just another stake in their heart come 2014. A rush to ban here by executive order will cost Obama and the Dems votes among most moderates in 2014. Bad move.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    @OhWiseOne I refuse to debate this with you sir. I registered my AR -15 under Clinton and I will do it again if necessary. You're talking to two different things and I support putting those will illegal guns on chain gangs at hard labor breaking rocks for 10 years. but we have to have a way to know which guns are which. I got back a .357 that an employee stole because it was registered. Otherwise it would have been melted down and that gun is worth over a thousand dollars. I don't mind registering my guns.

  • View all 43 replies >

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    Realthinker
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    Obama and Biden have to know that several organizations including the NRA are already working on the lawsuits that would lead to a court challenge should Obama be unwise enough to try an executive order to overide any Constitutional rights. It sounds like a trial balloon to me. They know they will never get a full weapons ban past Congress
  • MongoAPillager
    !
    you have to be drugged out of your mind not to be worried about this,the very idea that they would voice the idea of using executive orders to by pass the second amendment.its like they are testing every possible avenue no matter how unconstitutional,if this does not scare you????
  • Denizen_Kate
    !
    Biden said the president would act, but gave no details. Let's just wait and see, shall we? No sense getting all in a twist just yet. Politix just likes to alarm us with provocative headlines and get us all fired up.
  • MongoAPillager
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    @Denizen_Kate well being as an executive order is of questionable constitutionally at best,purely dictatorial at worst,,,gun confiscation has been the end game plan,this is the first time they have openly suggested they would act with openly totalitarian impunity,its breath taking in its sheer audacity
  • paperdragons81
    !
    @Denizen_Kate Your right he didn't give any details of what that action might be. But the act of passing it without congress is highly disturbing,and sound like a threat. To me this is how it sounds ' I Don't Care What Congress Thinks About It I'm Going To Pass Whatever I Want " the fact that he didn't give to many details as to what the act will be, makes my Imagination go wild with possiblities. Doesn't this make you at least a little uneasy?
  • Denizen_Kate
    !
    @paperdragons81 - A little uneasy, sure, but this type of vague story with inflamatory headline gets some people really worked up. IF and WHEN an executive order is issued, I doubt very much that it will entail confiscation of existing weapons.
  • Scottar
    !
    Hey yeah, based on his past executive actions and ramming through Obamacare, it's a real concern.

    Even Pravda is concerned:

    http://www.thelonestarwatchdog.com/2012/12/29...

    Russian Press Pravda Message to Americans: Do Not Give Up Your Guns

    Obama and his juiced up koolaide drinking apparatchiks would love to get rid of American's abilities to defend themselves against a renegade, NWO oriented government. But that is also the goal of the super rich elites who are behind this scheme that has little to do with your safety. It's a mental health issue primarily.
  • DARSB
    !
    I listened to the VP's remarks (satellite radio rocks!). Despite what neocon Bill Krystal's little publication claims, Mr Biden said no such thing. He did go on at length about how the country is ready for some adult discussion and actions to reduce or prevent gun violence.

    This, of course, will do nothing to calm the apparently armed bedwetters in our midst who see threats in the discussion even taking place, let alone with its content.
  • DARSB
    !
    @tomincali True dat, but we have got to move past that intransigence. I think change is going to happen no matter how many threats, implied or overt, the NRA makes. Can you imagine the voting public's reaction if the House stalls every bill on this topic - and then another school shooting takes place? 2014 suddenly looks a lot darker for the GOP.
  • o
    bambi33
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    Indeed, the "discussion" of openly defying the constitution should concern all good Americans - even if it is just a couple of spoiled little bratts talking out of their rear-end.
  • u
    commonsense51
    !
    I hope this surprises no one. These new age Democrats are so arrogant that they will bypass every checks and balances in our Government to achieve their goals. The ends always justifies the means when it comes to these activist control freaks. Here's just a few examples. For all people who love to own guns for hunting, protection, target shooting. Lame Duck Obama's true colors surface and he says screw you, I don't like guns and one step at a time will disarm America (of course like England we will always tell you that we would never take your hunting firearms) For all pro life folks. Obama says screw you, I think Abortions are good & I will mandate you pay for them. For all you folks who think spanking your children is the most important life lesson a parent could ever give their child. Democrats say no, in our superior arrogant mind, spanking is ABUSE, and therefore will make laws that allows a child to have his parent arrested if they should spank him.(gee I wonder when parents started losing control of their kids?) For all you Americans who loved the yearly Christmas and Easter pageants in your schools. Liberals say screw you, we don't like any mention of our Christian heritage in schools and from now on will be intolerant of your freedoms to express your majority faith even though your taxes pay for those schools. We must censor all forms of individual rights in order not to offend the one.(translation: not to offend the Liberal) To all you Obama supporters, it is truly sad to see what freedoms you allow to be taken from us all for the sake of free Government subsidies.
  • u
    userfriendly
    !
    This is a silly paranoid rant worthy of a teabagger. Especially the part where you say a pres who hasn't even been sworn in yet is a lame duck.
    Abortions are not 'good', and nobody thinks they are, but they are a necessary option. Or would you rather support unwanted children through welfare?
    Spanking? Where did that come from? Is there some issue you need to talk about?
    We still have Christmas and Easter here, but I haven't seen much in the way of pageantry lately. Budget cuts. Republican budget cuts.
  • u
    commonsense51
    !
    @userfriendly What, do you live in a cave? Years ago Liberals made it a crime to spank our children. The schools were teaching the kids to turn their parents into the law if they were spanked. Thankfully decent parents ignore what idiot Liberals mandate. If your schools still allow Christmas and Easter celebrations consider yourself lucky but it won't last long. Our schools have eliminated Christmas and Easter pageants thanks to Liberal morons who sue the schools if they mention God. Obama is a lame duck which means he can not run again so therefore his true beliefs will surface since he does not have to worry about getting future votes. I laugh at the ridiculous insults you Obama supporters label at the Tea party. Tell me what terrible things they stand for. The only thing i know they want is for our Government to quit spending money that they don't have. They want our politicians to balance the budget, How can that offend any thinking person? You say Abortions are not good...... why not? If you believe Abortions are not good then obviously you believe it to be killing living growing human beings. If they were not human beings why would it not be good? Then you go on to say what would I rather do, support them on welfare? Now listen to your words and THINK! You just said it is better to kill living growing human beings than to support them on welfare. Can you grasp what you just said? In your totally selfish world, we would all be better off if we go down to the welfare offices and start killing the welfare clients. Can you Liberals get any more self consumed? I agree with you, we do not want unwanted Babies being conceived but the answer sure is not to kill the child. How about getting back to a day when we spoke about values, not sleeping around unless you loved the person and then if you should get pregnant the child has a loving mother and father. Nah, LETS ABORT THEM, THAT'S EASIER RIGHT?
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