9. Gun Control Legislation
"All in all, this was a pretty shameful day for Washington." -Barack Obama, 17 April 2013 Amid three mass shootings within two years in America, notably the gruesome Sandy Hook Elementary massacre, Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Pat Toomey of my home state of Pennsylvania introduced a bipartisan bill that would expand background checks on firearm purchases to include Internet and gun show sales (which I personally supported), while Senator Dianne Feinstein of California called for a complete overhaul of firearm regulation, including the reinstatement and revamping of the so-called "assault weapons" ban signed into law during the Clinton administration (which I did not support). The President championed both of these laws, but neither one made it past the 3/5 Senate vote, which need I remind you is controlled by Democrats. This defeat gave way to what I believe to be one of the President's most defining moments as a politician, laying the blame on the system itself and on those who disagree with him. " caved to the pressure. And they started looking for an excuse any excuse to vote no, he said, adding that (and here's the zinger) that those Senators who voted against the bill put politics before American lives. This, of course, somewhat peeved members of the GOP and members of the NRA, myself included, who rightfully took offense to the blood of schoolchildren being put on their hands by a man who is supposed to unite us as Americans in the face of tragedy. Of course, there are Democrats who are NRA members as well and likely Democrats who weren't too happy that nothing got done to begin with. So yes, it was a very shameful day in Washington, Mr. President. A good salesman doesn't insult a customer when he can't make a sale, and the American people simply weren't interested in buying the product as is. Try again.