Obama administration proposes new executive actions on gun background checks

[Alinvegas]

Ya see what happens when politicians pass laws with good intentions.

The Obama administration on Friday proposed two new executive actions to make it easier for states to provide mental health information to the national background check system, wading back into the gun control debate after a months-long hiatus.

Vice President Biden's office announced the proposals Friday afternoon. Both pertain to the ability of states to provide information about the mentally ill and those seeking mental health treatment to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

One proposal would formally give permission to states to submit "the limited information necessary to help keep guns out of potentially dangerous hands," without having to worry about the privacy provisions in a law known as HIPAA.

"The proposed rule will not change the fact that seeking help for mental health problems or getting treatment does not make someone legally prohibited from having a firearm," the statement said. "Furthermore, nothing in the proposed rule would require reporting on general mental health visits or other routine mental health care, or would exempt providers solely performing these treatment services from existing privacy rules."

The other proposal would clarify that those who are involuntarily committed to a mental institution -- both inpatient and outpatient -- count under the law as "committed to a mental institution." According to the administration, this change will help clarify for states what information to provide to the background check system, as well as who is barred from having guns.

The statement from Biden's office claimed these changes would help ensure that "better and more reliable information" makes its way into the system.

Over the past year, the administration has been trying to get states to offer up more data for that system, after failing to pass legislation to expand the background check infrastructure.

The administration made a robust effort to pass gun control legislation after the 2012 mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., but the bills, which included new bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, failed to gain enough support in Congress.

In the Friday statement, President Obama and Biden renewed their call for Congress to pass "common-sense gun safety legislation" -- including by expanding the background check system and making gun trafficking a federal crime.

 

[GordonGecko]

I'm not surprised you want crazy people to be well-armed, Al.

In fact....it makes perfect sense.

 

[Bo-4]

Ya see what happens when politicians pass laws with good intentions.

This is GREAT news Al, thanks!!

 

[Bo-4]

I'm not surprised you want crazy people to be well-armed, Al.

In fact....it makes perfect sense.

Mmm Hmmm -- gotta fix those bad election results! ;-)

 

[Alinvegas]

I'm not surprised you want crazy people to be well-armed, Al.

In fact....it makes perfect sense.

Once again you get it wrong. It's the Hipaa law that I am referring to, however, once again Obungle believes he can legislate from the oval office...

 

[Alinvegas]

Mmm Hmmm -- gotta fix those bad election results! ;-)

OK Bo. I live here. Never saw that poster anywhere in Nevada during the election. Where did you get it, the Onion?

 

[Bo-4]

OK Bo. I live here. Never saw that poster anywhere in Nevada during the election. Where did you get it, the Onion?

It's photoshopped Al, but it very much resembles her remark doesn't it?

"You know, our Founding Fathers, they put that Second Amendment in there for a good reason, and that was for the people to protect themselves against a tyrannical government. And in fact Thomas Jefferson said, it's good for a country to have a revolution every 20 years," Angle said. "I hope that's not where we're going, but, you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies and saying, my goodness, what can we do to turn this country around? I'll tell you, the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out."