What to do about guns
Viewpoint: Washington Post (excerpted) A sense of urgency is the most ephemeral thing in politics. That’s why the debate over gun control is reaching a key moment. The opportunity to do something serious about gun violence must not be lost. Vice-President Biden, heading up the task force created after the Newtown, Conn., school massacre, kept the issue alive this week in a series of high-profile meetings with interested groups. The next step is to move from talk to action.
The Biden group is considering measures that would be broad and comprehensive, going well beyond reinstating the expired assault-weapons ban, including: universal background checks for firearms buyers; tracking the movement and sale of weapons through a national database; strengthening mentalhealth checks; and stiffening penalties for carrying guns near schools or giving them to minors. The vicepresident also raised the possibility the White House could implement some measures by executive order.
The working group is right to think big, yet it must be cognizant that in today’s polarized environment, an omnibus bill might offer everyone something to oppose. It would be a mistake to ask Congress for a package so big that it sinks.
We support reinstatement of the expired ban on sales of new assault weapons and limits on high-capacity ammunition clips. These military weapons have no place in civilian hands. But this is not a whole strategy. The White House would be wise to consider at least two other measures that polls suggest enjoy public support. One would be to require universal background checks for gun sales; the other would be federal legislation to tighten the definitions and penalties for gun trafficking.
Beyond these, the White House can show leadership on the related issues of mental health and of violence in entertainment and video games. But the urgency of action, and the deep polarization of our politics, means the administration should choose its legislative priorities carefully, aiming for those with broad public support and a reasonable chance of approval.