WASHINGTON — The Republican-led Senate voted Wednesday to block an Obama-era regulation that would prevent an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from being able to purchase a firearm. The measure now goes to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it.
The regulation was crafted as part of President Barack Obama’s efforts to strengthen the federal background check system in the wake of the 2012 massacre of 20 young students and six staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Adam Lanza, a 20-year-old man with a variety of impairments, including Asperger’s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, shot and killed his mother at their home, then went to school where he killed the students, adults and himself.
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The 57-43 vote to revoke the regulation sends the measure to Trump.
With a Republican ally in the White House, the GOP has moved aggressively on several fronts to rescind some of the Obama administration’s final regulations on the environment, financial reporting and now guns. Under an expedited process established through the Congressional Review Act, a regulation is made invalid when a simple majority of both chambers pass a joint resolution of disapproval and the president signs it.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) spearheaded the repeal effort and said the regulation unfairly stigmatizes the disabled and infringes on their constitutional right to bear arms. He said that the mental disorders covered through the regulation are filled with “vague characteristics that do not fit into the federal mentally defective standard” prohibiting someone from buying or owning a gun.
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Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said he didn’t know how he could explain to his constituents that Congress was making it easier rather than harder for people with serious mental illness to have a gun.
“If you can’t manage your own financial affairs, how can we expect that you’re going to be a responsible steward of a dangerous, lethal firearm,” Murphy said.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) argued that anyone who thinks they’re treated unfairly can appeal, and are likely to win if they’re not a danger to themselves or others. But Grassley said federal law requires a formal hearing and judgment before depriving someone of owning a firearm due to mental illness.
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“This heartless resolution puts the most vulnerable Americans at risk,” said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “Make no mistake, this vote was really about deepening the gun industry’s customer pool, at the expense of those in danger of hurting themselves or others.”
Once again we see the Republicans in congress and the National Rifle Association putting firearms sales ahead of public safety. There exists no earthly reason why individuals with a history of mental illness should be able to purchase and own firearms.
Individuals who were put on the list and prevented from purchasing or owning a firearm could appeal the decision. If they could demonstrate they were no danger to themselves or others they were likely to win their appeal.
Americans support for stricter firearm control is up sharply.
Such a move just makes no reasonable sense at all. These people are just crazy!
I like this new site!
JMJ
Thanks Jersey. We hope that means we’ll see ya often and you’ll impart your wisdom.
Hope things are going better for you.
In what universe is it more important to arm a crazy than tackle the huge
wealth disparity problem that you won on? Will they at least attach a
small tender to the bill apologizing to Gabby Giffords, the tiny Sandy Hook first graders and Aurora movie theatre victims…or are the strange rights
of crazed killers more important than innocent victims. Go ahead and giggle Wayne Lapierre, the only thing left is forcing taxpayers to arm
those types.
In the republican/conservative universe I’m thinking. The NRA has went from something good to being a near criminal organization. Their 2’nd amendment rights advocacy is a lot more about supporting firearm manufactures and raw corporate dollars.
I don’t recall “the huge wealth disparity problem” being a Trump campaign issue. Unless you mean making the problem worse. He did run on that. Which is why he suggested huge tax cuts for corporations and rich people. I’d say the billionaires he selected for his cabinet shows he’s serious about making the problem worse. As he promised.
BTW, seem like it might be easy to spoof an ID on WordPress. All you need to know is their email. Unless I’m missing something.
Was this meant to appear on this post regarding firearm control?
BTW, I had to fetch your comment from spam where it was automatically determined by Akismet to be spam.
As for your observation about spoofing? I doubt it but it remains to be seen. BTW, the spoofing BS is no longer of concern to me. Well it s. Which is one reason why I left Blogger in the dust. Spoofing has become standard activity there!