Here is a list of the 23 Executive Orders Obama issued---and some questions I have about them.
1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system. (What is relevant data?)
2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system. (Makes everyones medical history available to the federal government—and then to newspapers under the Freedom of Information Act.)
3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system. (Here is the carrot! Incentives mean money—or withholding federal money)
4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks. (What are “dangerous people? NRA members? Gun owners belonging to gun forums?)
5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun. (This is already done. How about guns illeagally seized?)
6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers. (Private sellers are different than licensed gun dealers?)
7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign. (Funding? Increases the national debt . Who or what group to lead this “campaign”?)
8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission). (The government does not have authority to demand I lock my guns up. I may need them handy in an emergency.)
9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations. (Funding? Increases the national debt)
10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.
11. Nominate an ATF director.
12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations. (Funding? Increases the national debt)
13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime. (Define gun violence/gun crime. Is it what ATF defines? Or the President?)
14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence. (Who does CDC report to? Funding? Increases the national debt)
15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies. (My gun won’t fire if it is not my fingerprints, voice, etc.? What about a malfunction. I am supposed to depend on this to defend my family? Government could eventually have control over this)
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes. (My doctor has no business in knowing what, if any guns I might have. I will certainly not answer this.)
17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers. (Funding for this? Increases the national debt)
19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover. (Federal Government mandating services that the state must cover?)
21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations. (Same as 21)
23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.
Please feel free to add to the list of questions that I may not have thought of.
1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system. (What is relevant data?)
2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system. (Makes everyones medical history available to the federal government—and then to newspapers under the Freedom of Information Act.)
3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system. (Here is the carrot! Incentives mean money—or withholding federal money)
4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks. (What are “dangerous people? NRA members? Gun owners belonging to gun forums?)
5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun. (This is already done. How about guns illeagally seized?)
6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers. (Private sellers are different than licensed gun dealers?)
7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign. (Funding? Increases the national debt . Who or what group to lead this “campaign”?)
8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission). (The government does not have authority to demand I lock my guns up. I may need them handy in an emergency.)
9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations. (Funding? Increases the national debt)
10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.
11. Nominate an ATF director.
12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations. (Funding? Increases the national debt)
13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime. (Define gun violence/gun crime. Is it what ATF defines? Or the President?)
14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence. (Who does CDC report to? Funding? Increases the national debt)
15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies. (My gun won’t fire if it is not my fingerprints, voice, etc.? What about a malfunction. I am supposed to depend on this to defend my family? Government could eventually have control over this)
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes. (My doctor has no business in knowing what, if any guns I might have. I will certainly not answer this.)
17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers. (Funding for this? Increases the national debt)
19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover. (Federal Government mandating services that the state must cover?)
21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations. (Same as 21)
23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.
Please feel free to add to the list of questions that I may not have thought of.
