President Obama Responds with "Executive Actions"

The Full Report is located here. As detailed below the entire set of proposals are listed below along with who would be responsible for actual implementation of the particular recommendations. Contrary to what has been reported, President Obama did not sign 23 executive orders at his gun-control event on January 16th. What he did was initiate 23 "executive actions." An executive action is a vague term that can refer to anything done by the executive (the president). Some of the items on the White House's list of 23 "executive actions" — such as "Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health" and "Nominate an ATF director" — are more like personal priorities. President Obama, in fact, didn't actually sign any executive orders today. He did issue three "presidential memoranda," which, respectively:

• direct federal law enforcement to trace all guns taken in federal custody in the course of a criminal investigation
• direct the Department of Justice to ensure that all applicable information from federal agencies is made available for background checks
• and direct the Department of Health to "conduct or sponsor research into the causes of gun violence and the ways to prevent it."

Background checks

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

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

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

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