Today,  President Barack Obama laid out 23 points in addressing guns and  violence in the United States. While it is applaudable and worthy that  from the bully pulpit the issue of guns and violence is being discussed  and brought to the forefront, there was nothing I heard or have read  about the proposals put forth today which will, in my opinion, have any  impact on violence in our American culture and society.

I  do agree with and understand the need for background checks on all gun  sales. I am not sure how this will be implemented when so many guns are  sold between family and friends. But I do believe we must get a better  handle on who legally possesses or may obtain a firearm in the nation.  This is one of those feel good measures, but I do not see it having much  of an impact on preventing or deterring another Newtown or Aurora.

At  the same time, the National Rifle Association (NRA) is not helping its  image or enhancing its validity in the current conversation on what to  do about violence and the impact or play of firearms in these atrocities  when it releases a gun video game or with the ad it aired today which  mentioned the President's daughters. The NRA is coming across as deaf to  the cries in the streets and in the homes of victims.

I  find all of the proposals to be reasonable actions to take. But nothing  outlined by the President addresses the cause of violence, society's  fascination with violent acts nor do I see anything that will be a  deterrent to future violence. Some of what was initiated (Points 3 &  4 see below) may have to be cussed and discussed in state legislatures  throughout the nation to work out the details.

As  I said the discussion is appropriate and needed. The actions being  taken are applaudable. I just cannot see where any of this will actually  deter those bent on committing heinous activities nor do I see where  any of this gets to why society has turned so violent. I do not see a  pathway to treating effectively those bent on destruction.

From  the Cornfield, I tip my hat to Vice President Joe Biden and his task  force and to the President for bringing the issue front and center.

My  question is when will we get passed the optics and feel-good measures  and address the why our society has become so violent and how to change  the path we are on?

The  problem is not guns. The problem is not movies. The problem is not  video games. The problem is not that people suffer from mental illness.  The problem is us.

We  go blithely on with our lives until a Sandy Hook happens while ignoring  the daily slaughter that happens in our inner cities. Is it time to  change our societal tolerance to the daily violence?

How do we accomplish this and yet maintain the freedoms we hold so dear within our society?

I  don't have the answers, but something needs to be done that is more  than just another band-aid or sitting around the campfire and singing a  happy song because we did something even if it didn't help change  anything.

As reported by CNN here are the 23 executive actions taken today:

1.  Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make  relevant data available to the federal background check system.

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.

3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.

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.

5. Propose rulemaking to give law  enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual  before returning a seized gun.

6. Publish a letter from ATF to  federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run  background checks for private sellers.

7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.

8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.

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.

13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.

14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease  Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.

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.

16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.

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.

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.

21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.

22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.

23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/16/the-breakdown-of-obamas-gun-violence-proposals