President Obama today announced his proposals aimed at curbing gun violence in the nation.
Some have been tried before, and will require congressional approval.
The President announced his intention to fight for some political tough proposals, and to just implement others.
The study led by Vice-President Biden met with various groups from gun control advocates to the NRA in the month since the Connecticut school shootings.
And today, with the families of Sandy Hook in attendance, President Obama announced his wish list.
Universal background checks on gun sales, even private sales.
Tougher penalties for gun trafficking…those who knowingly sell to criminals.
A ban on ammunitions magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
And a renewal of the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.
Even though every President since Gerald Ford, without exception, supported the ban on military style rifles, renewing the ban will be an uphill fight and the toughest part of his proposal.
In addition, the President announced 23 executive orders mainly involving better sharing of information for background checks, and ordering the Centers for Disease Control to study the causes of violence in society.
None of the executive actions, despite the fears of gun owners, involve guns themselves.
And the NRA says any attempt to renew the assault gun ban will fail.
With the help of former President’s Reagan and George HW Bush, President Clinton signed the original assault weapons ban in 1994. But he acknowledged in his memoir the cost to Democrats.
And despite the support of President George W. Bush, it was allowed to lapse in 2004.
Total cost for the proposals is roughly $500-million.