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Home Page > News > VP Joe Biden to lead push for new gun law policy after Newtown massacre – VIDEO

VP Joe Biden to lead push for new gun law policy after Newtown massacre – VIDEO

‘The vast majority of gun owners in America are responsible’ Obama says

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, December 20, 2012, 8:09 AM

Updated Thursday, December 20, 2012, 9:48 AM

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President Obama, with Vice President Biden at his side on Wednesday, at a news conference about gun violence

Photo by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

President Obama has appointed VP Joe Biden to lead an effort that will work on concrete proposals for changes to gun laws in America, following Friday’s massacre in Sandy Hook elementary school, where 26 people, including 20 children, were murdered.

The U.S. President set a January deadline for recommendations and vowed to push for implementation of the policy proposals without delay.

He said that Friday's deadly shooting had been "a wake-up call for all of us."

“This time, the words need to lead to action,” Obama said during an announcement in the White House on Wednesday.

Read More: Grace McDonnell's parents on how they are coming to terms with Sandy Hook tragedy - VIDEO

He also asked Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban which expired in 2004 and called for stricter background checks on people who purchase weapons.

“The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing,” Obama said.

“The fact that we can’t prevent every act of violence doesn’t mean we can’t steadily reduce the violence.”

In his address, Obama spoke directly to gun owners saying he believes in the Second Amendment, adding, “the vast majority of gun owners in America are responsible."

Read More: New gun restrictions will not prevent tragedies like the Connecticut school shooting

Responding to the news, New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg described the announcement as an important step in the right direction, as he offered his full support to both Obama and Biden.

Read More: Why Mayor Michael Bloomberg is ignored on gun violence

“The country needs his leadership if we are going to reduce the daily bloodshed from gun violence that we have seen for too long. The task force must move quickly with its work, as 34 Americans will be murdered with guns every day that passes without common sense reforms to our laws,” Bloomberg said in a statement.

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seanomelb | Dec 21, 2012, 08:00 PM EST

And the NRA'a answer is to arm everyone in the U.S. and have armed guards at evey school how sad and evil. Columbine had 2 armed guards what say now La Pierre you arragont misfit.

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EphraimKibbey | Dec 21, 2012, 07:49 PM EST

It has been a WEEK since 26 beautiful lives were snuffed out by an assault rifle using 30 round magazines of fragmentary ammunition! What have YOU done today to prevent this massacre of children and teachers from ever happening again? The NRA said that on Friday they would announce steps to prevent this from EVER happening again. Their solution was MORE guns in schools! What have you done to advance any of the NINE bills sitting in congress to a vote? Have you written to your congress person urging them to vote to pass ANY of them yet? If so, THANK YOU but please keep on them about it. We parents, grandparents and educators must DEMAND that congress do something NOW! Our kids LIVES are more important than their rating with the NRA and we will remember what THEY did when it is time to vote again!!! “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.” —Saint Augustine

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StevieJoe | Dec 21, 2012, 02:23 PM EST

Sorry,I did not realize that comments on this topic were reserved for the anti second amendment crowd. You failed to publish my opposing view.

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pndirishandprou | Dec 20, 2012, 09:40 PM EST

The N.R.A. is an organization that is aiding and abetting America's homegrown suicide terrorists and should be treated as such. I urge wealthy gun control advocates to file lawsuits against the NRA, in honor and on behalf of the victims and their families, based on the NRA's vital role in making the most lethal weapons easily accessible to suicide murderers. The NRA is therefore an accessory to every single mass shooting perpetrated by deranged murderers with assault weapons.

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merefalow | Dec 20, 2012, 06:56 PM EST

dream on,how many massacres,how many presidents and polititions.it was founded by the gun,its written into the constitution,massacres are in its history,shooting animals isn,t a sport,its a neccessity,ingrained,part of the national syche,big bucks and a multi billion industry will make sure,NOTHINGS GOING TO CHANGE ANYTIME SOON.

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seanomelb | Dec 20, 2012, 04:35 PM EST

Well may the cretins below scream about gun control.I hope they washed the blood of Newton from their soiled hands today.

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Gaelicpiper | Dec 20, 2012, 03:24 PM EST

The useful fools who are, again, screaming for gun control, don't get it- Butthead O'bumma gave the task to uncle Joe because it will be a useless effort. If Butthead O'bumma thaught it woudl be successful, he would be putting his brand on the effort.

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FastEddy | Dec 20, 2012, 11:04 AM EST

LOL ... that will fix it! ... he, he, he

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Eschetic | Dec 20, 2012, 10:56 AM EST

This job will be quite a challenge, but the timing is right and (right wing aspersions notwithstanding) Biden's record as a highly effective Senator indicates he should be up to the task. If he pulls it off, it will be a major step toward making him the next president in 2016. Here's hoping that not lost in the effort to re-ban the assault weapons which have NO place in hunting or private "sport" is the need to overturn the woefully decided "District of Columbia v. Heller," 554 U.S. 570 (2008), in which the same bare majority of radical "conservative" Justices which overturned 200 years of election precedent to mandate the short count which gave "W" Bush his first illegitimate term in office held that the first half or the 2nd Amendment (the part about membership in "a well regulated militia") and the founding fathers' clear intent could be ignored in favor of the current NRA position.

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