What To Expect Tomorrow From Obama

This afternoon President Obama met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, BATFE Deputy Directory Tom Brandon, and FBI Director James Comey to discuss his plans for more gun control. About an hour ago, the White House released a "Fact Sheet" outlining his Executive Actions. The full document can be read here.

Here are the highlights as I've summarized them.

1.   Expanding the definition of who will be considered a dealer in firearms. Key factors that will be considered is if you advertise on the Internet, have formal business cards, rent tables at gun shows, and the number of firearms sold.


2.   BATFE will finalize Rule 41-P which will force background checks and chief law enforcement officer checkoffs on trusts and corporations.


3.   Expanding the NICS operating hours to 24/7, hiring of 230 new personnel, and notification to local law enforcement when a prohibited person attempts to purchase a firearm. 


4.   Attorney General Lynch will urge the states to submit complete criminal histories.


5.   Federal prosecutors will be urged to "continue to focus on smart and effective enforcement of our gun laws."


6.   BATFE will be budgeted for 200 more Special Agents and Industry Investigators in FY2017.


7.   BATFE will establish an Internet Investigation Center to track illegal online firearms trafficking.


8.   BATFE will devote $4 million to enhance the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network. 


9.   FFLs must notify BATFE if firearms are lost or stolen in shipment.


10.   US Attorneys will be encouraged to "renew domestic violence outreach efforts".


11.   $500 million to increase access to mental health treatment.


12.   Social Security Administration will begin reporting recipients who have a financial guardian to the NICS system.


13. Depart of Health and Human Services will instruct states that HIPAA doesn't apply when reporting mental health issues.


14. DOD, Justice, and Homeland Security will conduct or sponsor smart gun research.


15. All other departments are instructed to review the availability of smart gun technology on a regular basis and promote it.

Sebastian at Shall Not Be Questioned has his take on these Executive Actions. He finds it a less ambitious and bold than he was expecting.

UPDATE: Charles Cooke at National Review has an excellent analysis on these gun control moves by Obama.

Further, he will have set no meaningful precedents whatsoever. In other words: Even if he wins this round, he will have done precisely nothing of merit — except perhaps to have pleased his base and to have convinced the most ignorant parts of the electorate that he has finally stuck his finger into the NRA’s eye. Were these serious measures, I would be squealing. Instead, I’m amused. These are the dampest of squibs.

Read the whole thing. It is worth a few minutes your time.