Listen Live
Fantastic Voyage Generic Graphics Updated Nov 2023
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE

 

Hillary Clinton has been a proponent of gun control for years.

She backed off of some of her tough talk and would-be legislation, but as far back as 2000 she has advocated for proposals like a national gun registry and keeping guns from criminals.

But less than a week after the massacre at an Oregon community college Clinton unveiled one of the most comprehensive gun control plans of any of the presidential candidates.

“This epidemic of gun violence knows no boundaries, knows no limits of any kind. And when this happens people are quick to offer out thoughts and prayers.  That’s not enough. How many people have to die before we actually act?

That’s a great question considering there hasn’t been much movement in this country, if any, on revising gun laws.

Mrs. Clinton became emotional as she introduced a mother who lost her 6-year old son in the Newtown, Connecticut shooting in 2012.

“So many of the parents of these precious children who were murdered have taken the unimaginable grief that they have been burying and have tried to be the voices that we need to hear.”

So, let’s hear what’s in Clinton’s proposal.

  1. Universal federal background checks.

Most Republicans argue universal background checks will not prevent determined individuals from getting their hands on guns.

Most Americans support universal background checks.

  1. Close various loopholes.

Clinton’s proposal would ensure that gun purchasers don’t have a history of documented mental illness.

It would also close the so called “Charleston loophole” which allowed the shooter in the South Carolina Church shooting case to buy a gun because his check was not completed in three days.

  1. Repeal a law protecting gun manufacturers from lawsuits.

Gun manufacturers have certain special protections that prevent victims of gun violence from suing for negligence.

  1. Expand inspections of gun dealers.
  1. Prosecute people who purchase guns for those who can’t legally by them themselves.

That means criminalizing “straw purchases,” in which individuals buy guns and provide them to individuals who cannot pass background checks themselves.

  1. Block convicted domestic abusers from buying and possessing guns.
  1. Improve laws blocking individuals suffering from mental illness from obtaining weapons.

This is an area where Clinton could find broad support.

Both Democrats, Republicans and the NRA believe this area can be improved.

But, Democrats say this alone is simply not enough.

Turning this proposal into legislation would be tough for any elected official.

Keep in mind, at this point Mrs. Clinton is just a candidate to be elected.

It may be a bold idea, but for now it’s just an idea unless and until she actually becomes President and can convince a country of people who, no matter how grotesque the tragedy, doesn’t seem to find anything wrong with the gun laws already on the books.

*List of proposals provided by Business Insider

Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.