Obama's Gun Control Orders: Why In His Last Year in Office?

Surrounded by gun control advocates, survivors, and family members of mass shootings, Obama announced his gun control measures that he will institute in this, his last year of office.

But, what nobody seems to be asking is why this President had waited so long to do anything prior to this year if he was, as he appeared to be, so passionate about gun control.  However, as PBS reported:

"Six months after the Jan. 8, 2011 shooting in Tuscon, Ariz. that left six dead and several others wounded, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the White House said the attorney general had formed working groups in the Justice department to identify “common-sense measures” to prevent another mass shooting while respecting gun rights. The department came up with a list of proposals, including ways to strengthen background checks for prospective gun buyers. But according to a recent New York Times story, it shelved those ideas about a year ago as the administration focused on the upcoming election..."

So, for this President, it didn't come down to saving lives in 2011 but, instead, the politics of winning the 2012 election.  And, don't think that politics isn't what his current actions (executive orders) are all about.  In this, an election year, Obama wants confrontation with the Republicans over expanded gun background checks.  He wants to paint them as heartless people who won't take common sense steps to fight violence in this country.  He also knows that in polling, nearly 90% want expanded background checks.  Not because expanded checks are necessarily needed; but, because the Democrats have convinced Americans that tens of thousands of guns are being sold without background checks. Which is false.  According to the FBI, more than 220 million background checks have been conducted in the U.S. since late 1998.

Lastly, everything that the President has announced will probably wind up in the courts with litigation lasting long after he leaves office.  And, my guess all those orders by Obama will be struck down because his executive actions are an attempt to re-write existing laws.

References:

PBS: What’s Obama’s Record on Gun Control?: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/whats-obamas-record-on-gun-control/

Polling Report: Gun Polls: http://www.pollingreport.com/guns.htm

FBI Background Checks Tallies: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/nics/reports/nics_firearm_checks_-_month_year.pdf

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