
Obama: No longer “an excuse for doing nothing” on gun violence
A Joe Biden-led task force will be required to put forward proposals "no later than January"
By Jillian RayfieldTopics: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Gun Control, Gun Violence, Newtown school shooting, Politics News
The president announced that Joe Biden will lead a task force to come up with proposals for how to deal with gun violence, in the wake of the mass shootings in Newtown, Conn. “If there is even one thing that we can do to prevent any of these events, we have a deep obligation, all of us, to try,” Obama said.
Obama continued that there has been a conversation over the last few days about how we can “reduce the epidemic of gun violence that plagues this country every day,” and “that conversation has to continue, but this time the words need to lead to action.”
“The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing,” Obama said. “The fact that we can’t prevent every act of violence doesn’t mean we can’t steadily reduce the violence.” He added that the task force will be required to come up with a “set of concrete proposals, no later than January, proposals that I intend to push without delay.
“This country has a strong tradition of gun ownership that’s been handed down from generation to generation,” he continued, but “you know what, I am also betting that the majority, the vast majority of responsible, law-abiding gun owners would be some of the first to say that we should be able to keep an irresponsible few from buying a weapon of war.”
When asked whether he believes the commission will, in fact, result in actual policy changes, Obama replied: “As soon as we get those recommendations I will put forth proposals,” adding that not having a ”sustained attention span to get this done over the next several months doesn’t make sense.”
Matt Bennett, vice president for public affairs for the Third Way, formerly Americans for Gun Safety, told Salon that he thinks the president is serious about reform: “This vice president doesn’t lead missions to nowhere. And from everything we have seen and heard from the WH, they want to pull out every stop and do all they can to make real progress.”
And prior to the press conference, Jon Chait at Daily Intel explained why the Biden choice could have some legs:
As for Biden, he’s been a longtime advocate for gun control, working as a senator to write and pass the 1994 federal assault-weapons ban and earning an F grade from the NRA, along with the title of “the most anti-gun vice president in American history.” So that’s a start.
Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.
You Might Also Like
More Related Stories
-
Karzai suspends peace talks with Taliban
-
Obama: NSA surveillance has saved lives
-
Obama mum on US arms to Syrian rebels
-
House passes sweeping anti-abortion bill
-
Here come the Edward Snowden truthers
-
R.I.P. Michael Hastings
-
How Obamacare shortchanges low-wage workers
-
Civil rights groups sue NYPD over Muslim spying
-
Bill Ayers: Obama has committed war crimes
-
How cash secretly rules surveillance policy
-
Kansas secretary of state compares immigration protesters to the KKK
-
SNAP out of it, conservatives!
-
Is Cindy McCain actually a gay "hero"?
-
Ai Weiwei on his incarceration: "They never looked away from me, 24 hours a day”
-
Billion-dollar bioterror detection program under new scrutiny
-
GOP's war on women has a new face: Marsha Blackburn
-
Is there a "liberal bias" in academia?
-
War against Issa heats up, as Cummings releases IRS transcript
-
No, Brazilian riots are not an "overreaction" to fare hikes
-
Former intern sues Atlantic Records
-
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests
Featured Slide Shows
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)
close X- Share on Twitter
- Share on Facebook
- Thumbnails
- Fullscreen
- 1 of 11
- Previous
- Next
-
The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.
-
In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.
-
This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.
-
Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.
-
An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.
-
Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.
-
Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.
-
People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.
-
On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.
-
The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.
-
Recent Slide Shows
-
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)
-
The week in 10 pics
-
Photos: Turmoil and tear gas in Instanbul's Gezi Park - Slideshow
-
10 summer food festivals worth the pit stop
-
- Share on Twitter
- Share on Facebook
- Thumbnails
- Fullscreen
- 1 of 11
- Previous
- Next
-
The week in 10 pics
-
10 summer food festivals worth the pit stop
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
9 amazing drive-in movie theaters still standing
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
Netflix's April Fools' Day categories
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
Related Videos
More Related Stories
-
Karzai suspends peace talks with Taliban
-
Obama: NSA surveillance has saved lives
-
Obama mum on US arms to Syrian rebels
-
House passes sweeping anti-abortion bill
-
Here come the Edward Snowden truthers
-
R.I.P. Michael Hastings
-
How Obamacare shortchanges low-wage workers
-
Civil rights groups sue NYPD over Muslim spying
-
Bill Ayers: Obama has committed war crimes
-
How cash secretly rules surveillance policy
-
Kansas secretary of state compares immigration protesters to the KKK
-
SNAP out of it, conservatives!
-
Is Cindy McCain actually a gay "hero"?
-
Ai Weiwei on his incarceration: "They never looked away from me, 24 hours a day”
-
Billion-dollar bioterror detection program under new scrutiny
-
GOP's war on women has a new face: Marsha Blackburn
-
Is there a "liberal bias" in academia?
-
War against Issa heats up, as Cummings releases IRS transcript
-
No, Brazilian riots are not an "overreaction" to fare hikes
-
Former intern sues Atlantic Records
-
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests
Most Read
-
Why Sarah Palin actually matters again Joan Walsh
-
GOP plan to appeal to millennials: "Make abortion funny" Alex Seitz-Wald
-
Why didn't anyone help? Mary Elizabeth Williams
-
Lynda Obst: Hollywood's completely broken Lynda Obst
-
To my daughter on Father's Day: Sorry I used to be a sexist Mo Elleithee
-
Rahm Emanuel is losing control of his city Mark Guarino
-
The best of Tumblr porn Tracy Clark-Flory
-
TSA agent allegedly tells teenage girl to "cover herself" Mary Elizabeth Williams
-
Museum that discriminates against people says it is being discriminated against Katie Mcdonough
-
Study: Reading novels makes us better thinkers Tom Jacobs, Pacific Standard

Popular on Reddit
links from salon.com

303 points304 points305 points | 7 comments

58 points59 points60 points | 21 comments
From Around the Web
Presented by Scribol
-
Banks Caught In How Many Mortgage Settlement Violations? -
Report Finds Obstacles Ahead For Obamacare Rollout - James P. Hoffa: CEOs Want To Hide Riches Through Repeal Of Wage Gap Disclosure Requirement
-
Young Adults Want Health Insurance, Which Is Good News For Obamacare: Survey -
House Committee Advances Immigration Bill Over Dem Objections
-
Missing Michael Hastings -
Heritage Foundation Challenges CBO Immigration Reform Estimates With Controversial Study -
Exclusive: Confidential Administration Document Details Plan To Sell Obamacare Through Social Media -
37 Photos Of Presidents Bro-ing Out - Your Treasury Secretary's Signature No Longer Looks Like A Cupcake



Comments
3 Comments