On the 2013 ObamaGunBan

Here is my personal take on ObamaGunBan:

2. BANNING MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES, AND TAKING OTHER COMMON-SENSE STEPS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE

"Assault weapon" is a fallacy concocted by gun grabbers. However, I will not waste my time arguing here. I will just focus on the practical aspects of the proposed new ban.

No one knows precisely how many "military-style assault weapons" are out there. I'd estimate it is in the range of several million, perhaps even tens of million. The number of magazines is at least as high as the number of firearms they are used for, and most likely several times higher. To put it bluntly, there are already enough "assault weapons" for criminals to obtain one easily. Banning further civilian sales has almost negligible effect.

So, what we are talking about here is, at best, an appeasement to those who fear scary-looking guns and what they have seen them do in movies. This does not make my kids any safer.

Now, regarding the specific "executive actions":

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.

OK.

2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.

OK.

3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.

OK.

4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.

OK.

5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.

OK.

6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.

FBI NICS can only handle so many queries at any given time. Furthermore, ATF has been tightening on the number of FFL licenses in recent years. Efforts should be made so that prohibition of private firearm sales will not become an undue burden to law-abiding citizens.

7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.

OK. BTW, NRA has been doing that for years.

8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

OK.

9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.

OK.

10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.

OK.

11. Nominate an ATF director.

OK.

12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.

Too vague. I don't agree entirely with the NRA that armed guards are the only way to stop school shootings. However, since none of these measures proposed by Gun Grabbers can guarantee that no firearm will ever fall into the wrong hands, I strongly believe that schools should have a last line of defense.

13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.

Why not maximize law enforcement efforts on all kinds of violent crime?

14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.

Why single out gun violence? All kinds of violent crime should be targeted.

15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.

Yawn ... Even if a reliable technological solution can be found, what do you do with the estimated 3.5 BILLION guns already in circulation?

16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.

My answer will be "with all due respect, it is none of your business."

17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.

OK.

18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.

Resource officers is none but an euphemism for armed guards. Why is it kosher for Obama say this, but NRA got blasted for promoting exactly the same idea?

19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.

OK.

20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.

OK.

21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.

OK.

22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.

OK.

23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.

OK.