Obama: 'The Families of Newtown Deserve a Vote'

The most powerful moment in the president's speech was about guns, not jobs

The State of the Union moment everyone's talking about is Obama's very dramatic peroration on the victims of gun violence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkFJ2YFnVFc

Overwhelming majorities of Americans - Americans who believe in the 2nd Amendment - have come together around commonsense reform - like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun...

One of those we lost was a young girl named Hadiya Pendleton...Hadiya's parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence. They deserve a vote.

Gabby Giffords deserves a vote.
The families of Newtown deserve a vote.
The families of Aurora deserve a vote.

Pundits are calling it the most powerful moment of Obama's State of the Union - if not of any State of the Union. Everyone in the hall was on their feet roaring. The camera showed Republicans as well as Democrats on their feet applauding, including Speaker John Boehner. Since Obama called for a "vote" on gun reform - rather than for the reform itself - it might be a tough proposal to filibuster, should any Republican wish to do so.

Should Congress vote on gun laws in honor of the victims of gun violence?

[PNWest]

Vote it up or down. Gun control will fail but at least there will be a record of who was in favor of it and who was against it. To not vote is just cowardly.

[marine1]

I agree, take the G D vote but when it is done , live wiyh the results and move on to jobs and the economy and put this country back to work.

[Denizen_Kate]

It won't solve the problem of mass murdering nutbags, but all Obama is asking for is a vote. That seems perfectly reasonable.

[Vance1]

I would love to see what democrats vote yes on any anti gun bill..."The midterms are coming"

[Dan_Tien]

Take semiautomatic rifles and ammo clips off the table. Push universal background checks and focus on illegal guns by allowing the BATF to maintain records of gun sales and gun store inventories so that the 1% of gun dealers who make the majority of illegal gun sales can be shut down.

Ignore the people who say that you can't stop the illegal gun trade because they are paranoid that "law-abiding citizens" will be subjected to tyranny. Some of us are already living under the tyranny of gangsters with guns. Ted Nugent versus MS-13 equals dead Ted.

[RealityOne]

Nothing like a horrific tragedy to bring about the political change you have planned for. I think those little kid victims are the best political tools Obama ever had.

[DreamStat1c]

I think voting is the best way to handle it. Like everything else in America, majority rules.

[Canoochee]

Except for when the majority votes for bills like proposition 8 in California a few years ago.

[standout]

tell that to al gore.

[DreamStat1c]

I don't believe the people should be able to vote on civil liberties, but things like this are very appropriate.

[SavageMazx]

@DreamStat1c what happened to majority rules?

[formerrepub]

Wrong! we live in a republic, the majority does not rule! I know that's how team Obama wants it but he and the rest of the "majority" should be going by the constitution. If you are so set on majority rules, then how are you going to feel when you are the minority?

[AlexMIA]

Yes, bring it to a vote, a nation wide vote, not a conress vote! I will vote against anybody in favor of overzealous gun control, democrat or republican. Watch your steps!

[AlexMIA]

<nation wide ballot vote>

[Scottar]

These types of deaths are in the minority, deaths due to gangs supersede that. The registration should happen at the state level and the feds can only have access to it with a warrant. But all sales should have background checks at the state level. The feds should have a database on only those who have criminal backgrounds or metal problems.

But still it ultimately up to people to keep the guns away form potential thrift or out of reach of household members who are too young or unstable. But there are always cracks in the system, like illegal sales or guys like the LA ex-policeman who went postal. Maybe if Hollywood would stop making stupid films with gun shootups that are not true to life. That life, just don't have a good fix for that unless they could scan your brain to determine if you are postal or crime prone.

[Slowmo]

They have as much of a vote as the rest of us do. You know, if there wasn't SO MUCH evidence contradicting the effectiveness of the proposals, the gun control argument might have a little merit. BUT then there's the whole "constitution" thing. Yeah remember, the document that defines us as citizens and is the foundation for the entire nature of our country. I am definitely NOT ok with that being negotiable. The president likes to say that "safer streets" is the motivation behind his gun control agenda but when he IGNORES evidence from sources like the FBI and the Department of Justice (who point blank reported that gun control had no effect on murder rates or violent crime rates after monitoring the effects of Clinton's gun control laws), then it really makes you question the motive. And, if safety truly isn't his motive, then he's using tragedies like Newtown as leverage to push another political agenda and selling it with the guise of safety. What kind of person would do that?

[TheJimmy]

Our politicians and their phony compassion never ceases to amaze.

[Medicinebow]

Yeah....but it is important to "forwarding" their agenda.

[BelinKS]

I've said it before and will say it again. That is exploiting the pain the families are going through to try to get what you want. Everyone in the nation deserves a vote. I'm very sorry these families are having to go through this pain. But decisions affecting this country should not be made on emotion. Step back a bit and let common sense and the wills of each congress persons constituents be the deciding factor. Not emotion or the congress persons own agenda.

[MadAmerican]

Once again he needs to stop using children for his own agenda. Gun control will fail because criminals do not obey laws.

[Russell797]

The greater the availability to guns, the greater the ease in acquiring one for anyone with criminal intent. The easy access to guns is what got us into this mess in the first place.

[culinary]

Exploitation of victims of horrible tragedies over something that isn't going to help a damn thing. Way to go!!

[Russell797]

Take a vote on particular measures and have the guts to put yourself on the record.

[Emerald1]

I'll agree...let's put it to a vote...a NATIONAL vote....like the ones (referendums?) that are put on state ballots. Let the PEOPLE speak...not the politicians. Put gun control on the ballot for the midterms. Let's get it done and over so Congress can get on with the problems we have with things like the economy & jobs. My heart breaks for those families but this gun control push is taking advantage of them..not honoring them. It is a typical Alinsky rule being used.

[CaryNickel]

The constitution, and our form of government, was designed precisely so emotion and mob rule wouldn't make our decisions for us. It is SUPPOSED to be difficult to pass law, so that we don't lose our liberties due to hot-headed groupthink.

[klutch]

Most statists think that if we legislate all the ills of society away, then they will go away. Well, that's not the case! It didn't work for alcohol, it's not working for drugs, it's not working for gambling, it's not working for "illicit" sex, I'll argue that it won't work for abortion (although there are many who will disagree with me!). With that said, I must conclude that it will not work for guns either! All these 'bans' do is send the activity underground! One can only look to Washington DC to see that after the restrictive gun bans were overturned by the Supreme Court, the number of murders began dropping! In the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were as many as 450 murders per year! Last year, there were only 88! That's the fewest number of murders since the early 1960s!

For those who talk of bringing gun control to referendum? Ummm....bad idea! In fact a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BAD IDEA! We must understand that our country is NOT a democracy! We are a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC! OR AT LEAST WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE! The Constitution is there to set LIMITS on what the government can or can not do! It is there to protect the minority from the majority! It's a shame that we don't educate our youth about our Constitution because we need to do so! Unfortunately, we have diluted our education so much so that it's a far cry from when our country was founded.

Now, for those who say that 'the families of Newtown deserve a vote'? Well, they do! They deserve to have the ability to arm themselves against thugs like Mr. Lanza! You think more gun bans are the answer? Try telling that to Mark Mattioli who lost his son in that God-awful massacre; or Bill Stevens whose daughter's best friend lost her sister! Both of these men testified on behalf of those who support the right to keep and bear arms in front of the Connecticut legislature and (I believe in Stevens' case) Congress as well!

[Corey]

And the American people need a president who's not spending like a drunkin salor and who's not afraid to lead. When he was a senator he thought leadership was voting present guess he still feels the same way

[standout]

it deserves a vote.people need to understand what the vote is about.if it passes you can't buy assault weapons.that was a law not to many years ago.it does not mean you can never buy a gun again or they will take away guns you own.

[DavidRobertson]

My rights are not subject to removal or restriction by a mere vote. Amend the Constitution through the process provided in it, or learn to live with guns around you.

[Wooky]

HITLER used the children for an excuse to take away the citizens gun and now you have Obama and his gang of thugs trying to do the same thing!!! Don't get me wrong I really hate what happened in Newtown my prayers have gone up for the families, but disarming us will not solve the problem!

[Brownie]

I hate the Hitler analogy. Because, I can't see Obama, as Hitler. Obama doesn't stay in power after these four years. Hitler his entire life to rule. Hitler was a Nazi, correct. Nazis won't let any person of color join their gang. Find someone else to compare Obama to.

[Redrose]

@Brownie actually, there were a few people of color who were Nazis. But, I agree, President Obama is no Hitler.

[Brownie]

@Redrose Interesting, they never taught me that in college. They should. Thanks, I'm about to look it up. Is there a specific source? I own a copy of mein kampf. Does Hitler mention that in his book?(I got a little bored and didn't get very far. But, I guess I'll try to get through it now with this little peace of info. You learn something new everyday.

[Redrose]

@Brownie Google Black Nazis and a youtube video should come up. Some books mention it, but I can't put my hand on one right now. There were Arab and African nazis and some blacks born in Germany as well.

[Brownie]

@Redrose I see. Thanks. Well, I'm not going to jump gun on the Obama Nazi jokes, any more.