Youth Speak on CA Gun Violence Bills, Obama’s 23 proposals
Audio clip on CA bills, Obama’s 23 proposals after the clip.
Audio Moderator: Adriana Hernandez
Editorial Contributors: Antonio Flores, Vincent Salinas, Ashley Vargas, TeLona Love, Amir Adem
Clip includes discussion of two CA Bills: Senate Bill 53 and Assembly Bill 48.
Youth Speak on CA Gun Violence Bills, Obama’s 23 proposals
Obama’s 23 proposals to reduce gun violence
Looking recently at the news one does not have to go very far to see that gun control and gun violence is a hot topic. With the recent shooting of schoolchildren in Newtown, the gun control debate rages on with renewed vigor. The gun debate has also seen some new policy developments.
On Wednesday, President Barack Obama issued proposals, including 23 executive actions aimed at reducing gun violence and asked for help from lawmakers in making sweeping reform. His introduction of a $500 million plan to address this concern has received mixed reactions.
Many people expect fierce opposition to the possible changes, especially from groups like the National Rifle Association. However stricter gun control is in the minds of many with recent events swaying public opinion in its favor, shown by a New York Times/CBS poll, completed on Jan. 15, in which 54 percent of Americans want stronger gun control laws.
In California, bills have been introduced in an effort to curb gun violence statewide.
Senate Bill 53, introduced by Senator Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles), would require people purchasing any type of firearm ammunitions, either online or in a store, to hold a permit by 2014. Permit applicants would be subject to a criminal and mental health background check.
Assembly Bill 48, introduced by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), would ban kits that covert ammo feeding devices into high-capacity magazines, in addition to establishing a registry of ammunition sales in the U.S. Department of Justice.
The two bills will begin to make their way through the Legislature in March.
As the federal government and states act to reduce gun violence, we must begin to ask ourselves what is in the best interest of our country and of its citizens. What measures will be effective to keep us safe?
In 2006, over 25 youth began participating in weekly after-school writing workshops where they congregated in the hallway of a two-story building in West Fresno and learned the essentials of creating media and telling their stories. The group evolved over the next five years and is now proudly recognized as The kNOw Youth Media.
Through our program, we create opportunities for our youth participants, who in turn create long-term positive change in their communities. Our approach weaves youth development and youth media innovation to produce our biannual youth publication, multimedia projects, and community forums.
The kNOw began as a project of New America Media, which was the country’s first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations. In 2018 The kNOw became a project of Youth Leadership Institute.
