23 Executive Orders

Yesterday, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, gave an emotional and impassioned speech, as most of you have surely heard.  If you haven't heard..well, allow me to share the speech.  The President was introduced   by a father who lost his 7 year old son at Sandy Hook Elementary School, along with 26 other lives lost.But before I share the video, let that sink in for a minute.More people than that have been shot in Chicago so far this year...50 people have been shot in Chicago in 2016.The President Announces Commonsense Steps to Keep Guns Out of the Wrong HandsWe have a problem with guns.  Nationwide, as well as here in Chicago. I firmly believe that goes without saying.  I also believe that we should all be able to agree on the fact that something needs to be done to prevent the increase in gun related deaths that we are seeing, not only in Chicago, but across the United States.That is where yesterday's speech, and the 23 executive orders that President Obama signed that will help decrease the number of guns that get into hands illegally.  Below are the 23 executive orders:

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.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.3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.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.5. Propose rule making to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make itwidely available to law enforcement.11. Nominate an ATF director.12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.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.16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.Source: Forbes.com

Now of course, there are people who find fault with these executive orders, for a variety of reasons.  I personally believe all of those reasons are silly and inaccurate.  I can't imagine why anyone would disagree with a background check being done for any gun transfer.  That seems fairly simple.  If you are a law abiding citizen, you can still procure a gun with relative ease, and if you are not a law abiding citizen, it becomes significantly harder to procure a gun.

I can't imagine the problem with that.And yes, many guns are sold in today's world without background check, namely on sites like Armslist.  This problem was highlighted in a study done in 2013, and the findings were later published and publicized.Want to Buy a Gun Without a Background Check?  Armslist Can Help! Every little bit helps, and if the above executive orders save 1 life, isn't it worth it?Also, as a side note, it has been found that guns have even been sold, without background checks, on Facebook.Buying a gun on Facebook takes 15 minutesThe President is simply trying to do what Congress has grossly failed to do; take measures to decrease the loss of life we've seen from mass shootings across the United States.That's simple, and admirable. If you liked what you read, be sure to know every time I post a new entry. Subscribe Now! You can check out Reflections of a Chicago Life on Facebook. You can also check me out on Twitter, and see some of the things I see around the city on Instagram.