Ted Cruz & Dianne Feinstein Explosive Debate Over Gun Control In Senate: 'I Am Not A 6th Grader' & 'I Am Not A Sixth Grader': Sens. Feinstein, Cruz Spar On 2nd Amendment 14MAR13

UPDATED:SEN DIANE FEINSTEIN D CA puts Sen ted cruz r TX in his place during Senate hearings on proposed gun control legislation. Sen cruz represents the ignorance of a majority of Texans, and that is unfortunate, but Sen Feinstein was having none of it in this exchange. This post has been updated with the longer video clip showing Sen Leahy D VT pointing out to Sen cruz the Texas board of Education determines what books can and can not be read in Texas public schools, and Sens Leahy and Feinstein pointing out that child pornography is not protected by the 1st Amendment and Sen Durbin D IL pointing out federal courts have upheld D.C.'s ban of assault weapons and high capacity ammo clips with the Heller decision....

http://youtu.be/AbFW-Xe02Sc

Published on Mar 14, 2013

The question that I would pose to the senior senator from California is," Cruz said, referring to Feinstein, "Would she deem it consistent with the Bill of Rights for Congress to engage in the same endeavor that we are contemplating doing with the Second Amendment in the context of the First or Fourth Amendment, namely, would she consider it constitutional for Congress to specify that the First Amendment shall apply only to the following books and shall not apply to the books that Congress has deemed outside the protection of the Bill of Rights?"

"Likewise, would she think that the Fourth Amendment's protection against searches and seizures could properly apply only to the following specified individuals and not to the individuals that Congress has deemed outside the protection of the Bill of Rights?" he added.

Apparently, Sen. Feinstein was not amused with the Texas senator's line of questioning.

"I'm not a sixth grader," said responded. "Senator, I've been on this committee for 20 years. I was a mayor for nine years. I walked in, I saw people shot. I've looked at bodies that have been shot with these weapons. I've seen the bullets that implode. In Sandy Hook, youngsters were dismembered. Look, there are other weapons."

"I've been up — I'm not a lawyer, but after 20 years I've been up close and personal to the Constitution. I have great respect for it. This doesn't mean that weapons of war and the Heller decision clearly points out three exceptions, two of which are pertinent here."

At today's committee hearing in the U.S. Senate on gun control legislation, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) purposely challenged Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)-- posing a question regarding the constitutionality of new gun laws, freshmen Cruz lectured Feinstein, who has sat on this panel for 20 years, about the language in the Bill of Rights. Sen. Dianne Feinstein did NOT hold back for a moment in firing back at Cruz.
"Senator, I've been on this committee for 20 years. I was a mayor for nine years. I walked in and I saw people shot. I've looked at bodies that have been shot with these weapons. I've seen the bullets that implode. In Sandy Hook, youngsters were dismembered." Sen. Feinstein is of course a long standing supporter of gun violence prevention. From her personal experience with assassination of Harvey Milk in California--Feinstein has been actively fighting for better gun violence prevention. This isn't the first time she's been attacked for her views. For years, Feinstein has faced off against the NRA and gun lobbyists. When Sen. Cruz attempted to undermine her position, she quickly responded.

'I Am Not A Sixth Grader': Sens. Feinstein, Cruz Spar On 2nd Amendment

by EYDER PERALTA

Pictures of Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims are displayed as Senate Judiciary Committee chairperson Dianne Feinstein speaks during a hearing on "The Assault Weapons Ban of 2013" at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2013.

Jewel Samad /AFP/Getty Images

Earlier today, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation banning assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

The legislation is written by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, and as expected, the bill was sent to the full senate with a strictly party-line vote.

But before the vote, Feinstein had a tense exchange with Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

YouTube

In a question to Feinstein, Cruz tried to draw a parallel between the First and Second Amendments. He asked if Feinstein would "consider it constitutional for Congress to specify that the First Amendment shall apply only to the following books and shall not apply to the books that Congress has deemed outside the protection of the Bill of Rights."

The context, of course, is that Feinstein's legislation bans 157 different models of assault weapons and magazines that can hold more than 10 bullets.

Feinstein reacted to question viscerally.

"I'm not a sixth grader," Feinstein said. "Senator, I've been on this committee for 20 years. I was a mayor for nine years. I walked in — I saw people shot. I've looked at bodies that have been shot with these weapons. I've seen the bullets that implode. In Sandy Hook, youngsters were dismembered."

Feinstein did eventually explain that "there are different tests for different amendments."

Feinstein said that her legislation would pass the tests set fort in the Supreme Court's District of Columbia v. Heller, for which Justice Antonin Scalia — one of the court's most conservative judges — wrote the majority opinion for.

Tom Goldstein of SCOTUSblog writes that with the decision, the court said the Second Amendment provides individuals a "right to possess a basic firearm (the line drawn is unclear, but is basically those weapons in general lawful use and does not extend to automatic weapons) and to use that firearm in self-defense."

Cruz pressed Feinstein, asking her if it was then the job of Congress to determine what kinds of guns are legal or what kinds of books are legal.

Feinstein said it was the job of Congress to legislate and the job of the Supreme Court to interpret the laws. Should this bill become law, she said she fully expected it to survive a Supreme Court challenge.

By the way: This is not the first time Cruz, a freshman senator, has rankled the Washington establishment. Talking Points Memo reports that in February, Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, went after him for going "over the line" in his criticism of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/14/174332925/i-am-not-a-sixth-grader-sens-feinstein-cruz-spar-on-2nd-amendment

GUN CONTROL PROPAGANDA FROM OFA & At Last, White House Discusses Executive Order on Guns 7MAR&10JAN13

I received this piece of propaganda on gun control and immigration from a group I belong to, Organizing for Action, which used to be the Obama campaign's Organizing for America. My response to OFA with the local group CC'ed in, followed by a piece from HuffPost calling on Pres Obama to issue an executive order banning assault weapons and high capacity ammo clips. 

Think back to President Obama's first term. Special interests spent unprecedented money to convince Congress to vote against policies the American people supported. History is already repeating itself. We're just a few months into President Obama's second term and special-interest groups are back at it, pouring money into ads to defeat common-sense gun safety measures that more than 90 percent of Americans support. Shady groups with undisclosed donors are fighting back against comprehensive immigration reform.  We're not sitting back and letting them get away with it. Organizing for Action's mission is to put power back into the hands of the American people. That's why we won't accept a single dollar from corporations, PACs, foreign donors, or lobbyists. This is your movement, not theirs.  So step up and own it -- add your name today and let us know you're in: http://my.barackobama.com/Organizing-for-Action Thanks, Messina Jim Messina Chair  Organizing for Action ---------------- Let's finish what we started. Chip in $13 or more to Organizing for Action, the grassroots movement that will get the job done. MY response IF President Obama wanted to do something about gun violence he could issue an executive order banning assault weapons and high capacity ammo clips. Vice President Biden even suggested he do that, see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-david-jaffee/gun-control-executive-order_b_2443632.html. Now the people who worked to get him reelected are being played for fools with a propaganda campaign by OFA to deceive us into thinking the Pres is doing everything he can to address gun violence when in fact he is allowing the nra controlled congress to water down or reject any meaningful gun control legislation. They want us to provide political cover for the President's inaction on this issue, and they want our money too. I, for one, am not getting suckered this time. I want proof Pres Obama has MY back on gun control, and he can keep his hand out of my wallet until he does something to earn any donation I might consider. Some might suggest I quit Organizing for Action. Not gonna happen, I put time and money into getting a Progressive President elected and am not going to let him get away with turning republican on us without a fight. Craig. From HuffPost.... At Last, White House Discusses Executive Order on Guns Even the Dickensian sage, Mr. Bumble, may not have felt that the law is a complete ass. Sometimes, the asinine rigidity of the law and its practitioners can be overcome with a little creative thought. That is why I was delighted that Vice President Biden echoed what I have said now for some time -- that President Obama should issue an executive order banning the sale of semiautomatic guns, assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, as part of a comprehensive, nationwide package on gun control. I first urged the president to do so last year, in the wake of the mass killing in Aurora, Colo. At the time that I did so in a piece, titled "Calling for an Executive Order Banning Assault Weapons," I was denigrated by those on the right, who claimed that what I was proposing was unconstitutional, and I was denigrated by those on the left, who claimed that I would hurt President Obama's chances of winning reelection. Since that original piece, I followed up with several others, in which I continued to call for anexecutive order on gun control, since, I noted, it was highly unlikely that "a cowardly and intransigent" Congress would pass an assault weapons ban in an election year or any year. Finally, it seems that the White House has listened to me. But at what cost? Since I first broached the possibility of an executive order, we have had massacres at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, an Oregon shopping mall, and of course the horrific shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., as well as numerous other tragedies on a daily basis in cities like Chicago. Cynics will claim that an executive order will not last, that it can be reversed by the next president. To them, I say that I would rather save lives the next four years, then do nothing and watch as more massacres transpire. Others will claim that, as we are a country of roughly 300 million guns, massacres will take place no matter what the president does. That may be, but I am not so worried about the ordinary gun owner, who uses a hunting rifle or a shot gun. I am much more concerned about assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. As I wrote in a piece last month, just after the Newtown tragedy, had Adam Lanza been carrying a hunting rifle, he would not have gotten very far since the rifle would have been visible to all, and the carnage would have been greatly diminished. Some will continue to claim that this is an issue about mental illness, not gun ownership. Really? From time immemorial, we have always had angry, frustrated people, some of whom may or may not be mentally ill. That will remain the case in the world, for as long as we exist. Whatever one thinks of that hothead gun owner who seeks to deport CNN's Piers Morgan, he does not strike me as being mentally ill at all; he is simply an angry, frustrated, volatile man, who, unfortunately, owns many guns. Nor is Iago, my favorite example of a cold-blooded killer, mentally ill in the least. Like that gun owner on Piers Morgan's show, Iago is angry too, angry and frustrated at his status in life as a relatively unheralded soldier, whereas Cassio and Othello, two better men, who have more honor and courage than Iago, have received promotions. What we need to do is to keep assault weapons out of the hands of members of the public, whether or not they are angry, violent or mentally ill, because as I have argued, when there is a gun on the mantel in Act I, it is likely to go off by the end of Act III. As for the issue of violent video games, I certainly do not condone them, but I think that, here too, we are missing the true issue, which is the need to keep assault weapons out of the hands of anyone but those in the military. As a child, I grew up watching and enjoying the old Warner Brothers gangster movies, starring James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, George Raft and Edward G. Robinson. Those movies were not nihilistic, as many of today's video games are. Still, they often presented somewhat sympathetic portraits of criminals, like Cagney's Eddie Bartlett in The Roaring Twenties, Bogart's Roy Earle in High Sierra, and Robinson's title character in The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse. Needless to say, I did not end up as a mobster or a gun-toting killer. As harmless as I am, I and the rest of civilians in this country should be barred from owning military-style weapons. Vice President Biden is on the right track in finally proposing an executive order banning these weapons and high-capacity magazines. I commend him and President Obama for this. I only wish that they had implemented such an order last term. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-david-jaffee/gun-control-executive-order_b_2443632.html

YOU ARE LETTING GUN CONTROL REFORM DIE IN CONGRESS & Public Pressure, Background Checks Central To Obama Gun Control Strategy 8&9FEB13

THE children and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School are cold in the ground, in Chicago Hadiya Pendelton is being buried today, Congress is delaying action on passing any significant legislation on gun control, high capacity ammunition clips, background checks, school safety and expanding treatment for mental health and the American people are allowing the nra and gun manufacturers wear them down. Will you allow them to win through inaction and then be among those who weep, wail and pontificate after the next tragedy when maybe someone you love is killed or injured by gun violence? Click the link to see the proposals from Pres Obama. No matter what you think of him at least consider he has presented a plan and take a look at it. Understand if nothing is done it is on us, because we, the people, didn't keep the pressure on Congress and the President to take action. Call and/or e mail your Senators and Representative. Share this with family, friends, coworkers. From OrganizingForAction and NPR.....

President Obama has asked Congress to pass legislation to help protect our kids and reduce gun violence -- and we need to do everything we can to help. Forward this email -- and spread the word today:

Learn more:

http://www.barackobama.com/gun-reform/

Public Pressure, Background Checks Central To Obama Gun Control Strategy

by MARA LIASSON

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President Obama speaks about his gun control agenda before law enforcement officials in Minneapolis on Monday. The president was doing what his aides say he didn't do often enough in his first term: getting outside of Washington to build public support for legislation.

Ben Garvin/Getty Images

Gun control historically has been one of the most divisive issues in Congress, between the parties and even inside the Democratic coalition. Yet some in President Obama's own party say he has put together a gun agenda that is sweeping without being too painful for most Democrats to support.

"He did the right thing when he laid out his principles. It was not a crazy wish list," says Jim Kessler, co-founder of the centrist Democrat group Third Way. "It didn't include a lot of things that gun rights supporters find anathema. You know, it didn't include licensing and registration. It didn't include one-gun-a-month limits. It didn't include waiting periods. It was a very measured package that was moderate."

On Tuesday, Obama is expected to discuss specifics of his gun control agenda during his State of the Union address, perhaps building on his legislative priorities.

Unlike former President Bill Clinton, who asked Democrats to walk the plank in the 1990s to pass an assault weapons ban, Obama has laid out a menu of proposed changes, including universal background checks, limits on big ammunition clips and an assault weapons ban.

"What he did is, he left it to the Senate to really work out the details," Kessler says. "And, you know, the president's playing the outside game and playing it pretty well."

On Monday, Obama was in Minneapolis, surrounded by uniformed law enforcement officials: "I need everybody who's listening to keep the pressure on your member of Congress to do the right thing," he told the crowd.

Obama was doing what his aides say he didn't do often enough in his first term — getting outside of Washington to build public support for legislation.

The president also had to convince gun control advocates that his newfound zeal for gun restrictions isn't just lip service. After all, in his first year in office, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence gave the president an "F" for a "lack of leadership for common-sense gun laws."

The past few weeks have changed all that, says Kristen Rand, legislative director at the Violence Policy Center.

"It's a complete sea change," she says. "Obviously, the tragedy at Newtown had a huge personal impact on him, and everyone in the gun violence prevention community was very open about being disappointed with him in the first term. But we're seeing a very serious, dedicated focus on identifying and passing effective gun violence prevention measures. So it's too bad we lost a term, but I think we're going to [hopefully] make up for it in the second term."

Focus On Background Checks

The gun control lobby has adjusted its sights as well. Groups like the Violence Policy Center, a nonprofit that advocates against gun violence, support much more ambitious restrictions.

But now, Rand says, they would define a victory for the president as "anything that works to reduce gun death and injury."

Gun control advocates seem to be settling on one measure as their top priority — background checks. Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which was founded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, aired an ad during the Super Bowl advocating background checks.

The ad, which ran in the Washington, D.C., television market, displayed video footage of National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre supporting background checks in May 1999. But LaPierre and the NRA now oppose background checks.

"There's going to be fees. There's going to be paperwork," LaPierre said last week on Fox News Sunday last week. "There's going to be law-abiding people caught up in a bureaucratic nightmare, and there's going to be abuse in terms of prosecutions. And it's all going to affect only the law-abiding people. The criminals could care less."

Mayors Against Illegal Guns knows the NRA has shifted course, and that's why it is highlighting the issue. Background checks get more than 90 percent approval in some public opinion polls, and may have the greatest chance of passing Congress.

Of course, the popular measure that's easy to pass isn't always the one that solves the problem. But in this case, the low-hanging fruit may be more important.

"If universal background checks pass, that is the gold medal in preventing gun violence and gun crime in the country," says Kessler, who calls the checks more important than a ban on assault weapons, even though the latter are associated with the most horrific crimes.

Background checks would make a bigger difference because the vast majority of gun crimes are committed with handguns, Kessler says. And in 9 out of 10 gun crimes, the killer is not the original purchaser of the gun.

"So you put those two facts together, and what you have is evidence of massive gun trafficking that goes on in the United States that funnels guns from the legal market to the shadows market," Kessler says.

"The lubricant that allows that gun to go to the illegal market is the private sale, which under federal law is not covered, which can be done without a background check."

Background check and gun trafficking bills have Democratic and Republican supporters in both the House and Senate. And this week the idea of improved background checks got an important and unexpected endorsement from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, the first member of the Republican leadership in either chamber to show movement on the issue.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/02/09/171476203/public-pressure-background-checks-central-to-obama-gun-control-strategy?ft=3&f=1001&sc=nl&cc=nh-20130209

Gabby Giffords' hearing today interrupted with news of mass shooting in Phoenix 30JAN13

GABBY GIFFORDS' testimony before members of the US Senate on gun violence and gun control was interrupted with the news of more gun violence, another mass shooting in Arizona. From Daily Kos.....

This morning former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelley were among the witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee investigating gun violence and gun safety. During Mr. Kelley's presentation, he interrupted one of his answers to say that a mass shooting had just been reported in his home state of Arizona.

What we know at this point is that a white male in his 60s walked into a large business building in north central Phoenix, got into an argument in the lobby, and started shooting—at least 10 shots were fired and two different guns were used. The suspect fled and has not been captured. Six people were injured, three were shot seriously and taken to John C. Lincoln Hospital. The TV's are filled with coverage right now, and SWAT officers have surrounded a nearby home, possibly the shooter's residence. That's all we know right now.

Police have confirmed that three people were shot at a business complex near 16th Street and Glendale Avenue in Phoenix Wednesday morning.

Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson said there was an altercation prior to the shooting inside the building at about 10:30 a.m. He said police do not believe this was a random shooting. azfamily.com

It appears to be a job-related incident, and the office building has been cleared. Helicopter news cameras are showing the SWAT officers surrounding the home and they seem prepared to enter. Reporters are now saying they have the suspect's name. Neighbors say he's a really nice guy.

Arizona is an open-carry state, where anyone can carry a holstered weapon—no registration or permit required. Just about anyone can buy anything at gun shows, no questions asked. So it's not unusual to see people walking around the grocery story with a pistol strapped to their hip. It's stuff like today's shooting, in the wake of Newtown, that's making people very edgy. A fellow walked into a K-Mart just last week with a weapon, and people went fleeing for the exits.

To quote Gabby, "Enough."

UPDATE: Sadly, one of the victims has died. This link has much more new information:

The suspect in the deadly Wednesday morning Phoenix office building shooting has been identified as Arthur Douglas Harmon, 70, according to 12 News sources. Arizona Republic

ORIGINALLY POSTED TO MAGGIE'S FARM ON WED JAN 30, 2013 AT 11:50 AM PST.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/30/1183387/-Gabby-Giffords-testimony-today-interrupted-with-news-of-mass-shooting-in-Phoenix?detail=email

Your president has called upon you (CONGRESS AND GUN CONTROL) 17JAN13

IF you agree with Pres Obama's and VP Biden's gun control proposals as outlined on 16JAN13 then e mail your Representative and tell them to support the legislation when it comes to the House for a vote. See details of these proposals in my earlier post The NRA’s influence — in 6 charts 16JAN13 & OPENSECRETS.ORG NRA PAGE http://bucknacktssordidtawdryblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-nras-influence-in-6-charts-16jan13.html
and Obama unveils gun-control proposals 16JAN13 &Chart: The U.S. has far more gun-related killings than any other developed country 14DEZ12 http://bucknacktssordidtawdryblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/obama-unveils-gun-control-proposals.html
and GRAPH; Obama’s gun-control proposals 16JAN13 http://bucknacktssordidtawdryblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/graph-obamas-gun-control-proposals.html
   Click the link from the Daily Kos to send your message....

Please send an email to your member of the House of Representatives, telling him or her to pass the gun safety proposals outlined by President Obama.

Earlier today, President Obama announced a series of executive orders on gun safety. However, the most important changes we can make to improve gun safety in America can only come with congressional action. These include:

1. Universal background checks whenever someone buys a gun, whether it is from a licensed dealer or a private seller;
2. Restoring the ban on military-style assault weapons, and a 10 round limit for magazines;
3. Improving access to mental health services;
4. Increasing funding for school security and safety

As President Obama himself said, "this will not happen unless the American people demand it." That means you.

Tell Congress: Pass the gun safety proposals outlined by President Obama.

The gun lobby has stood in the way of enacting common sense measures for too long. We finally have a chance to make a difference, but we need to help members of Congress find their spines.

Ask your representatives if they prefer getting an A rating from the gun lobby, or giving parents peace of mind when they drop their kids off for first grade.

I know my answer, I think I know yours, but make sure you know where your member of Congress stands.

Click here to remind Congress that they work for the American people, and not the NRA.

Keep fighting,
Michael Miller, Daily Kos

GRAPH; Obama’s gun-control proposals 16JAN13

HERE is a graph on Pres Obama's gun control proposals, go to my earlier post Obama unveils gun-control proposals 16JAN13 &Chart: The U.S. has far more gun-related killings than any other developed country 14DEZ12 http://bucknacktssordidtawdryblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/obama-unveils-gun-control-proposals.html
for more information related to this graph. From the Washington Post.....
President Obama proposed expansive gun-control policies aimed at curbing gun violence. The Obama administration can implement about half of the proposals, but the others — arguably some of the more critical initiatives — will require congressional approval. Read related article orObama's full remarks on the proposals.

Background checks

Assault weapons

Gun violence research

Gun safety

School safety

Mental health

Background checks

88 percent of Americans support background checks on people buying guns at gun shows.

Proposal

Action Required By

Require universal background checks for all firearm sales.	Congress
Send a letter from ATF to licensed dealers with guidance on how to facilitate background checks for private sellers.	Obama administration
Direct U.S. attorney general to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun and make recommendations to ensure dangerous people aren't slipping through the cracks.	Obama administration
Invest $20 million in fiscal year 2013 to give states stronger incentives to share background data.	Obama administration
Hold federal agencies accountable for sharing reliable data with background check system.	Obama administration
Remove barriers that prevent states from reporting information on people prohibited from gun ownership for mental health reasons.	Obama administration

Military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines

58 percent of Americans support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons.

Proposal

Action Required By

Reinstate and strengthen the ban on assault weapons.	Congress
Limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.	Congress
Ban possession of armor-piercing ammunition by anyone other than the military and law enforcement.	Congress

Gun violence research

Proposal

Action Required By

Direct the Centers for Disease Control and scientific agencies to conduct research into the causes and prevention of gun violence.	Obama administration
Provide $10 million to CDC for additional research on relationship between video games, media images and violence.	Congress
Provide $20 million to expand the National Violent Death Reporting System to all 50 states.	Congress

Gun safety

Proposal

Action Required By

Launch a national campaign to promote common-sense safety measures.	Obama administration
Review and enhance safety standards for gun locks and gun safes.	Obama administration
Direct attorney general to review gun safety technologies.	Obama administration
Challenge private sector to develop gun safety technology.	Obama administration

School safety

55 percent of Americans support placing an armed guard in every school.

Proposal

Action Required By

Provide incentives for police departments to hire school resource officers through COPS hiring grants.	Obama administration
Give $150 million to school districts and law enforcement agencies to hire school resource officers, school psychologists, social workers and counselors.	Congress
Provide $30 million in one-time state grants to help school districts develop emergency management plans.	Congress
Give schools and other institutions a model for how to develop and implement emergency plans.	Obama administration
Provide $50 million to help 8,000 more schools train their teachers and staff to create safer and more nurturing environments.	Congress
Share best practices on school discipline.	Obama administration

Mental health

56 percent of Americans think inadequate treatment of mentally ill people contributes a great deal to gun violence.

Proposal

Action Required By

Provide $55 million for new initiative (Project AWARE) to make sure students get treatment for mental health issues.	Congress
Provide $25 million for state-based strategies supporting individuals ages 16-25 with mental health or substance abuse issues.	Congress
Provide $25 million to offer students mental health services for trauma or anxiety.	Congress
Provide $50 million to train 5,000 additional mental health professionals serving children and young adults.	Congress
Clarify that the health-care law does not prohibit doctors from asking their patients about guns in their homes.	Obama administration
Launch a national dialogue about mental illness.	Obama administration
Finalize requirements for private health insurance plans to cover mental health services.	Obama administration
Ensure that Medicaid recipients get quality mental health coverage.	Obama administration