Administration's new effort at gun control reform

This transcript is automatically generated

The president is going factor executive board.

Executive action can be taken we haven't decided what that is yet but we're compiling all help with the attorney general.

And all the rest -- first.

As well.

Action we believe we require.

-- prison but in today's first meeting of the task force to.

Find some solutions on gun violence.

Said there -- consensus on three to four things in the gun safety area is how he claimed.

That around that table of officials from.

Various groups gun safety groups also victims Thursday he meets with hunting groups as well as an official from the National Rifle Association and that group obviously the NRA.

A staunchly opposed to any efforts to come after or restrict gun rights in any way.

It's presence speaking out about that saying there's more problem in Hollywood.

We have flood -- films out there.

Like American Psycho.

Natural born killers.

That are aired like propaganda loops on -- days and every single day rather face her own moral failings.

The media to demonize lawful gun owners.

The -- -- raise everyone's eyebrows today it was the talk of executive action perhaps even before congress acts on gun control or any other.

Broad measure let's bring in our panel tonight Steve Hayes senior writer for the weekly standard Charles -- opinion writer for the Washington Post and syndicated columnist Charles -- Okay Steve thoughts on the vice president's comments and the overall effort.

I think the first thing that must be said for people who thought the creation of this commission was going to mean that the White House was gonna -- serious attempts at doing something.

Or wrong that's plainly not the case the White House is proceeding and seems to be.

Taking -- a pretty aggressive -- Nobody also should be surprised that the White House would pursue executive action to to do the kinds of things that -- unlikely they'll be able to do.

With congress they've done -- on a number of issues from immigration to two series of others I think that this is it rings true and Joseph Biden says they're gonna.

Push that aggressively.

I think you know what they're likely to do is push from for greater enforcement through executive action things like background checks.

Encouraging.

Other federal government agencies to provide information already in their possession to the FBI to help compile.

More information on people who could be threats to get guns.

Sort of the smaller than the lower hanging fruit as that war of these debates I think they're -- they're likely -- to pursue the the bigger picture the end of the assault weapons ban.

Through legislative action working through congress -- You know its interest in the politics of this are -- to remind me a little bit of the politics of gay marriage.

Gun control like gay marriage is an issue is very popular in the democratic base.

But to which the president came belatedly.

On and you know now is going all out on it.

So I think in that sense it's consistent with his strategy for the second term which is spent two and wait till for the progressive wing of the party the difference.

Is public opinion more broadly which does seem to be flowing in the direction gay marriage but it's a lot less clear with respect to gun control.

And I think.

Handicap he's gonna run into -- a lot of red state democratic senators.

Who had a lot of gun owners in their states.

Moron wouldn't approve of this college solution many of whom are up for reelection in -- fourteen.

It does seem like.

A lot of the politicians are going to their corners terms at least in this.

Time that at some point right after -- it seemed like there was a moment where things were moving but.

It seems like the bases.

On both parties are getting active.

They are very active but I do think.

The broad public opinion hasn't changed.

Radically it's not a left right issues in the democratic Republican issue for a lot of Democrats who are pro gun as you see it.

Remember as represented by many of the senators.

So and I think -- and end up exactly where we started -- -- and trying to assault weapons ban it will be a little bit tighter.

But it didn't work the numbers on it and it lasted for ten years from the mid ninety's.

And the statistics on it had no effect and the reason is simple.

If you really if if we had an honest debate.

The gun owners would admit that yes of course the guns contribute to homicide the -- in Britain where they don't have many as ten times as much easier.

Japan had eleven Tomas gun homicides last year and it's a weekend in Chicago.

But what are we are we did different we have a 200 year history.

And culture of gun ownership and we have a Second Amendment and we have a system that believes that the rights -- Second Amendment.

-- and it's pre -- the republic.

And -- the point of having a government has in the declaration.

Is to secure the rights in -- Britain you have no so I try to government will control.

And -- so unless you're willing to confiscate.

We should be unconstitutional I would cause an insurrection in the country.

Has Australia did these things -- not -- have an effect except at the -- and that's the tragedy.

There are obviously lawmakers in several states were talking about confiscating.

We heard a lawmaker in Iowa there's a couple of other lawmakers.

And then you have today the state of the state address from New York governor Cuomo who said he wants to enact the toughest assault weapons ban.

Legislation in nation.

And he was very animated about it today.

-- -- do you forget the extremists.

And simple.

No one haunts with an assault rifle.

No one.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Well received there for what depends on -- meaning an excuse me remember governor Cuomo's rules was one of those who initially.

Talked about confiscation that's his word he used that word.

Confiscation I think confiscation is something that's on the extreme.

Of the left side of the Democratic Party.

Watch Live

Administration's new effort at gun control reform

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Sen. Rand Paul: Obama's speech is a 'misdirection campaign'

Franklin Graham: How the IRS targeted my religious charities

Obama’s foreign policy address

Obama shifts focus to counterterrorism policies

Gutfeld: World, meet radical Islam

Rep. Cantor: Lois Lerner owes Americans an 'explanation'

What evidence will be key in George Zimmerman trial?

Lawmakers overlooking CIA's role in Benghazi attack?

British PM David Cameron vows to never give in to terror

Did IRS official wave Fifth Amendment rights at hearing?

Biking with Bush: Wounded vets join president for ride

Did Benghazi attack derail Romney's presidential campaign?

Transcript

Recommended