American Progress: Here's what Obama could do *today* to curb gun crime: [View all]

American Progress: Recommendations for Executive Action to Combat Illegal Gun Trafficking, Gun Crime

The U.S. Senate vote on April 17, 2013, defeated a proposal to expand background checks for gun purchases. It was only the first round in the newly invigorated movement to enact common-sense legislation to reduce gun violence in our country. And while the moderate bipartisan proposal failed to gain the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster, a majority of senators voted in favor of this legislation, which has overwhelming public support in all corners of the country. Efforts are underway to gather more support for this legislation and proponents are hopeful that the measure will ultimately be enacted.

In the meantime, there are a number of actions President Barack Obama can take that do not require approval by Congress. The president began this process in January 2013 by signing 23 executive actions to address gun violence in the United States, including measures to ensure that more records are provided to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, nominating a director for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and directing the Centers for Disease Control to resume research into gun violence. We urge the administration to take additional actions using its existing authority both to improve the federal government’s ability to prevent dangerous individuals from acquiring or possessing guns and to enhance law-enforcement investigations of gun-related crime.

1. Develop a risk-assessment instrument to identify denied gun purchasers who are most at risk for future violence

2. Establish an alert system for failed background checks

3. Conduct background checks of gun-dealer employees

4. Verify the validity of a purchaser’s identification document as part of every NICS check

5. Require manufacturers to put multiple serial numbers on guns

6. Expand multiple-sale reporting

7. Penalize states that fail to provide records to NICS

8. Make disarming prohibited domestic abusers a priority

9. Incentivize gun-dealer inventory checks

10. Impose tighter restrictions on dealer inventory liquidations following a license revocation

11. Inspect dealer inventory for stolen guns

12. Form a joint task force with ATF and the FBI to investigate Internet-facilitated gun crimes

Read More: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/civil-liberties/report/2013/06/10/65494/recommendations-for-executive-action-to-combat-illegal-gun-trafficking-and-gun-crime/