Debate Magazine

House Democrats' 15-Point Plan

Posted on the 08 February 2013 by Mikeb302000
The House Democrats' Gun Violence Prevention Task Force released 15 principles today that it says will shape its recommendation for upcoming legislation. The principles include very broad ideas, such as to "support initiatives that prevent problems before they start," as well as more specific proposals, such as to "reinstate and strengthen a prospective federal ban on assault weapons."
The full list of recommendations is below:
  • Support the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans
  • Support citizens' rights to possess firearms for hunting, shooting sports, defense, and other lawful and legitimate purposes
  • Reinstate and strengthen a prospective federal ban on assault weapons
  • Reinstate a prospective federal ban on assault magazines
  • Require a background check for every gun sale, while respecting reasonable exceptions for cases such as gifts between family members and temporary loans for sporting purposes
  • Strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) database
  • Prosecute those prohibited buyers who attempt to purchase firearms and others who violate federal firearm laws
  • Pass legislation aimed specifically at cracking down on illegal gun trafficking and straw-purchasing
  • Restore funding for public safety and law enforcement initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence
  • Support initiatives that prevent problems before they start
  • Close the holes in our mental-health system and make sure that care is available for those who need it
  • Help our communities get unwanted and illegal guns out of the hands of those who don't want them or shouldn't have them
  • Support responsible gun ownership
  • Take steps to enhance school safety
  • Address our culture's glorification of violence seen and heard though our movie screens, television shows, music and video games

Back to Featured Articles on Logo Paperblog