President Obama’s Press Conference on Gun Violence

December 19, 2012

By Saeed Qureshi

 In his press conference on gun violence in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Washington, the President Obama was pensive, stunning, and articulate. He appeared heartbroken, grieved yet serene, somber and earnest. Although in the aftermath of Newtown elementary school massacre, the press conference was meant, to unfurl an action plan and urgent measures to rein in the erratic and free-for-all gun culture, yet most questions were asked about the fiscal cliff by the journalists.

He discarded the usual tradition and recourse to constitute a commission for finding ways and means to lessen the disastrous ramification of use of assault weapons and high powered guns. Instead he demonstrated his sense of urgency and seriousness in resolving this tricky issue by announcing a task force with a time frame of one month for presentation of report to control the gun violence.

 In the backdrop of the horrendous massacre at the Newtown Elementary School, the president seemed to be totally resolved and serious about containing the unbridled gun culture in the United Stated. The gun owners derive their right to buy, own and use the guns under the second amendment of the American constitution. While expressing his belief in the inviolability of the Second Amendment, he opined that without amending the amendment, the laws could be framed to curb the violence and stop manslaughter by the irresponsible and mentally sick persons.

The president assigned this extremely crucial task to his most trusted confidant, the vice president Josef Biden.  Within a time frame of one month or so, Mr. Biden would formulate a well-thought out strategy and set of proposals to enforce ban on assault weapons, put limit on ammunition and to ensure background checks at the gun shows. Vice president Biden has worked for years in the senate for legislation to check the proliferation and abuse of the guns and assault weapons in the United State.

The complete gun control is going to be a difficult task but in the wake of the gruesome tragedy of Newtown School, where a young boy killed 28 persons including 20 small children, there is a strong possibility that he would be able to get these laws passed by the legislators. Also he exuded the possibility of obtaining the consent of the gun stake holders one of which is the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The President’s determination to address this vital issue looks unwavering to bring about concrete results to restrain the wanton use of lethal weapons for killing the Americans by crazy individuals. That is why he is not in favor of making a commission to look into this urgent issue.

He asserted that in his drive against the uninhibited use of weapons, members of his cabinet and outside organizations would be involved. Besides, the departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security would also join the process.

Whether the Republicans’ dominated House would be willing to lend a helping hand to the president’s vital initiative would be laid bare once the report of the task force is finalized and tables before the two houses of the Congress for approval.

President Obama wants to capitalize on the anti-gun environment generated by the heat wrenching New Town School massacre that is the latest one in the series of such gruesome carnages by the callous murders having free access to the mass-killing firearms. President pointed that if they did not like to cooperate with me let them do it for the sake of the people who deserve protection from such horrific tragedies.