Page 5 - atoday
P. 5
U.S. NEWS A5
Thursday 21 January 2016
Lynch defends Obama actions curbing guns as legal
candidates and lawmak- more background checks
ers have condemned the
president’s move as an can be run; 200 additional
infringement of the consti-
tutional right to own guns agents for the Bureau of
and an overreach of exec-
utive branch powers. Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
“I have complete confi-
dence that the common arms and Explosives; fed-
sense steps announced by
the president are lawful,” eral research on gun safety
Lynch said in her prepared
remarks to the Senate Ap- technology and a request
propriations Committee
panel that oversees the for $500 million to improve
Justice Department. She
called the moves “well- mental health programs.
reasoned measures, well
within existing legal authori- Lynch said Obama’s 2017
ties, built on work that’s al-
ready underway.” budget, to be released in
Obama’s actions include
new guidance on who the February, will seek $80 mil-
government will consider
“in the business” of selling lion for his gun proposals,
firearms — a phrase used
to describe which deal- largely for the additional
ers must obtain federal li-
censes and conduct back- FBI and ATF agents.
ground checks on buyers.
Even those selling a few Republican presiden-
guns online or at gun shows
can be required to get li- tial candidates Donald
censes and perform back-
ground checks, the admin- Trump and Jeb Bush have
istration said.
Other steps include hiring said they would repeal
230 more FBI examiners so
Obama’s orders if elect-
ed, while Sen. Ted Cruz of
Texas, another contender,
called them unconstitu-
tional. House Republicans
Attorney General Loretta Lynch listens to opening statements on Capitol Hill in Washington, said they will create a task
Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, prior to testifying before the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science,
and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing on gun control. Lynch defended President Barack force to study “executive
Obama’s executive actions curbing guns, telling lawmakers that the president took lawful, com-
mon-sense steps to stem firearms violence that kills and injures tens of thousands of Americans overreach” by Obama
yearly.
and other presidents.
(AP Photo/Molly Riley)
Most Democrats have sup-
ported Obama’s actions.
ALAN FRAM telling U.S. lawmakers Lynch’s support for the “I’m fighting to give the
Associated Press Wednesday that the presi- modest election-year mea-
WASHINGTON (AP) — At- dent took lawful, common- sures Obama announced Justice Department the
torney General Loretta sense steps to stem firearms two weeks ago was certain
Lynch defended President violence that kills and in- to draw criticism from the tools they need to protect
Barack Obama’s execu- jures tens of thousands of Republicans who control
tive actions curbing guns, Americans yearly. Congress. GOP presidential families and communities
from gun violence,” said
Maryland Sen. Barbara Mi-
kulski, top Democrat on the
Appropriations panel. q
Senate Democrats block Syrian refugee bill from advancing
RICHARD LARDNER publican presidential nomi- could come to the Unit- committed to opposing the citizens we represent are
Associated Press nation — has called for ed States. The American hateful views of Trump and concerned?” Republican
WASHINGTON (AP) — barring Muslims from com- Security Against Foreign his Republican enablers.” Senate Majority Leader
Senate Democrats on ing to the United States. Enemies Act cleared the But Senate Republicans Mitch McConnell said. “No
Wednesday blocked a bill Republicans wanted similar House in November in the who backed the House bill wonder dozens of Demo-
that would crack down on votes on politically fraught aftermath of the Paris at- said it is difficult to effec- crats joined with Republi-
Syrian and Iraqi refugees amendments. tacks. It received 289 votes, tively vet immigrants from cans to pass this balanced
coming to the U.S. as the The Senate fell short of the a veto-proof margin that war-torn countries like Syria bill with a veto-proof major-
debate turned into a ref- 60 votes needed in the included 47 Democrats — and Iraq, where record ity over in the House.”
erendum on Republican 100-member chamber to despite President Barack keeping is poor — or may Three of the Republican
presidential candidate move ahead. The vote was Obama’s opposition.“This not exist at all. They also presidential candidates —
Donald Trump and his poli- 55-43. The House legisla- bill is just another step in the said senior U.S. intelligence Ted Cruz of Texas, Marco
cies. tion would require new FBI absolute wrong direction, and law enforcement offi- Rubio of Florida and Rand
Senate Democrats sought background checks and the direction of Donald cials have expressed con- Paul of Kentucky — left
to force election-year individual sign-offs from Trump,” Sen. Harry Reid, the cern that the Islamic State the campaign to return
votes as Trump — who three high-ranking fed- Democratic minority lead- may try to exploit the refu- to Washington to vote
holds a commanding lead eral officials before any er, told reporters before the gee screening program. for moving ahead on the
in national polls for the Re- refugee from Syria or Iraq vote. “The Democrats are “So it is any wonder that the measure.q
