The U.S. President handed the public 23 measures he will impose on all Americans to “keep them safe”.
By LUIS MIRANDA | THE REAL AGENDA | JANUARY 16, 2013
U.S. President Barack Obama, announced 23 measures to be adopted by decree to tighten control of access to firearms, including the marketing of assault rifles.
Among those “executive orders”, which according to Obama do not need to go through Congress, are requiring criminal background checks for all sales and increase mental health coverage.
These measures were announced by U.S. President in response to the slaughter perpetrated in December in Newtown, where a young man killed 20 children and six adults in a school, and his mother, before killing himself.
In addition, Obama will restrict access to high capacity magazines and eliminate piercing bullets, and urge states to share their databases on criminal records with the Federal Government.
The plan, Obama says, will boost security in schools and colleges, will provide funds to hire a thousand educational and psychological counselors and help update emergency programs.
The measures are part of the plan created by a team led by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who met with members of civil society, security officials and members of the education sector.
Obama’s decrees include increased budgetary resources to facilitate access to mental health of students and young people through training of 5,000 medical professionals.
The measures announced are divided into four categories: preventing weapons from reaching the wrong hands, ban the sale of assault weapons, increase school safety and improve mental health services.
The priority is supposedly to protect children
Barack Obama said protecting children from violence should be the primary “responsibility” of society, when he announced the 23 measures to tighten gun control.
“Although reducing gun violence is a difficult challenge, protecting our children from such violence should not be an issue that divides us,” Obama said at the White House, where he appeared next to Vice President, Joe Biden.
During the event Obama frequently referred to several children who supposedly wrote letters to him during the last month to show their concern about gun violence following the tragedy of Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and 6 adults were shot by Adam Lanza.
Obama read excerpts from a letter written by one of these children who asked him to “work hard” to stop the violence and casualties caused by firearms.
“I will do everything in my power to do so. But the only way we can change is if the American people and require it,” said the president.
He also stressed that to achieve change “real and lasting” Congress “must act” and pass laws that complement today’s proposals which he will approve by Executive Order.
“Together with our freedom to live our lives comes the obligation to allow others to do the same,” said Obama, who reiterated his support for the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which enshrines the right to bear arms responsibly. ”
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