Thank you all for coming hear today. Today, I would like to discuss with my administration's change in policies in the aftermath of the NewHaven Shootings and many similar mass murders with much greater in the United States than in other developed countries.
First, I've ordered the Justice Department to renew its efforts to develop a more effective background checking system and to have a final result passed on to my desk within the month. I've asked them to give this their top priority.
Second, I've been speaking with the Brady Campaign against gun violence and I want to announce that I'm supporting a new SuperPac called Sensible Gun Laws Advocacy that will have three functions. First, it will support organizations that get the word out about what sensible gun laws are. You see we have a problem in this country where he actually have more Public Relations and Lobbying professionals than we have journalists. For that reason, we often only hear the pro-corporate side of things and that's been especially true in the area of guns. Therefore, a second function of the SuperPac is a provide a list of names of those who espouse nonsensical beliefs about gun control whether they be politicians, policy advocates, TV personalities or journalists. These people will be published on a do-not-read list until these individuals bring their statements back in line with reality. We shouldn't respect or listen to people who attempt to confuse the issue.
A third function of the SuperPac will be to raise funds against politicians and organizations who support unrealistic gun laws.
We know what works in gun control Every other developed democratic country has gun control policies that work much better that U.S. Policies. Therefore, our choice is not to craft legislation that will be effective. Rather, it's to choose which democratic country's policies and laws we should adopt.
Therefore, I've appointed an independent group of individuals with expertise to give me a country whose laws would best fit within our own legal system so that we can quickly move toward sensible gun control that protects the safety of all Americans. This independent group will make there decision in two weeks time and I will then forward this bill for approval to congress. Some Senators have proposed bills for next congress. I urge them not to delay but to give me their ideas now.
The elements of this bill will include background checks for mental illness including family members and children who may have access to the guns. It also will include an assault weapons ban for those whose jobs don't require such weapons. This approach will also close gun show and other irresponsible sales practice loopholes. Finally, it will include a gun permit with a 30-day delay in obtaining guns because many murders buy their guns in the fury of the moment and such delays have proven to be effective in reducing homicide rates.
My approach doesn't interfere with second amendment rights. Rather, it takes simple and effective precautions that take guns out of the hands of dangerous people but doesn't interfere with the rights of hunters or those who enjoy target practice.
We can't allow the lobbyists or gun company profits to dictate policy on this issue. Therefore, the Whitehouse website will include a list of misleading arguments that have confused the issue in the past and are beginning to surface in the wake of the most recent shootings. This list includes
1.Defeatist arguments that the U.S. cannot have laws that are as effective as other countries. I reject that notion.
2.Claims that Connecticut had strong gun controls and they weren't effective. Connecticut's laws are stronger than most states but are far weaker than other countries law in terms of the effectiveness of the background checks and taking reasonable precautions taken that gun owners are of sound mind and don't have an interest in harming innocents.
3.False notions that mental health policies are irrelevant to this discussion is another frequent argument. It's true that most mental illnesses are not associated with violent crime. However, in rare cases psychotic individuals do become violent and so we need policies that make sure that such individuals don't have access to guns. Eleven of the last 15 mass murderers exhibited patterns of delusions or were diagnosed with psychotic disorders before they went on their killing sprees. In two of the remaining cases, its too recent for us to know what happened yet including the recent Connecticut mass murders. One person had a long history of violence and threats against others and was still allowed to own guns. Finally, one case involved domestic terrorism. We need to adopt policies that provide pro-active support for the potentially dangerous mentally ill including reasonable policies for institutionalization and early treatment both in our communities and in our schools. I support President Carter's plan in this regard which involves a comprehensive national mental health system that will work with Obamacare to insure consistent and comprehensive treatment for the mentally ill. We know from history that personality profiles by the press after these shootings are usually incomplete or inaccurate so lets not allow the press or others to argue that this case doesn't fit the mental illness and domestic terrorist pictures that account for almost all prior mass murders until all the facts are known.
4.Claims that such policies interfere with the 2nd amendment are utter nonsense. A militia of madmen or people who are domestic terrorists is an absurd notion. Only in this country, can the mentally ill and people who hate other Americans buy weapons with impunity. It's absurd example of policies that support industry profiteering at the expense of people and it must stop. Similarly, no one is arguing for taking guns out of the hands of people who protect our lives and our freedom. If you hear an argument like that. Take it with a grain of salt.
5.False arguments need to stop that claim the issues are complex and need to be studied more when in the fact the solution is simple but slightly less profitable for gun companies. We can't let what's best for gun company profits dictate our gun control policies.
6.Sensible gun laws have nothing to do with the pro-life pro-choice debate or conservative vs.liberal policies as some have claimed. They have to do what's best for all Americans.
7.The argument has also been made that we have more firearm homicides because the American culture is more violent and so we don't need to change gun laws we just need to change our culture. Laughter Firearms make violence more deadly so this argument is irrelevant. My policies today make it less likely that when violence occurs it will be deadly or permanently disabling violence. We can make our media safer for children by making sure they understand that what they see in media, and that applies especially to violence is not real and not a realistic way to solve problems. We know that this approach works because scientists have conducted studies that proven this. For example, Raul Huesmann's research at the University of Chicago.
8.People who attempt to water down gun laws by talking about school safety are not doing this country any service. Our schools are safe or safer than schools in other countries. We need to make our gun laws safer.
9.Arguments that the current crisis or others like would have occurred regardless of increased gun laws are also specious. These arguments are false because the mass killing assault weapons used in most of these crimes are illegal in other countries. Furthermore, other countries have sensible policies that prevent people from obtaining guns who have violent beliefs and or delusions.
Thank you for your time and God bless. Our prayers in the hearts of the victims and their families. Our policies should satisfy them and insure that such tragedies become a thing of the past.