Candice Miller Critical of Obama's Proposed Gun Laws

U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-MI 10, criticized plans announced Wednesday by President Barack Obama indicating strict gun control measures.

“The murder of innocent children in Newtown, Connecticut was a heinous act that demands action to better protect our children," Miller wrote in a statement Wednesday. "It is unfortunate that the Obama administration is focusing far too much on the method used instead of the root cause of why it happened. The vast majority of firearm owners in America are law abiding citizens simply exercising the right of self defense for themselves and their families guaranteed by the Second Amendment of our Constitution."

According to the White House fact sheet, Obama’s plan includes:

• Reinstating and strengthening the assault weapons ban.
• Restoring a 10-round limit on ammunition magazines.
• Getting rid of armor-piercing bullets.
• Ending a freeze on research into gun violence.
• Providing additional tools to prevent and prosecute gun crime.
• Calling on Congress to pass a $4 billion proposal to help communities keep 15,000 police officers on the streets, as well as new gun trafficking legislation that would “impose serious penalties on those who help get guns into the hands of criminals."
• Making schools safer by giving communities the opportunity to hire up to 1,000 school resource officers and school counselors.

Miller also was critical of the White House's role in drafting these gun law measures.

“The Obama Administration’s proposal is largely focused on diminishing the Second Amendment rights of law abiding owners of firearms with new laws which the President himself has stated would have done nothing to stop the attack on Newtown. I cannot support that effort. It is disappointing that President Obama’s political supporters in Hollywood who peddle violence and death to our children through violent video games and movies have been given a pass in this process. It is also disappointing that the President has not put forward a plan to take decisive action in improving a mental health system that has allowed these types of potential killers to fall through the cracks, only to allow them to carry out violent attacks. On one hand, this proposal is an overreach of executive authority and on the other, it is inadequate in addressing the root cause of the attacks."

The representative further stated her belief that the proposed measures would not limit the ability of criminals to obtain firearms but rather prevent law-abiding citizens from exercising their Constitutional right. 

“Criminals, by their very definition, do not care what the law states, so the only people impacted by stricter gun laws are those who seek to obey the law, not violent criminals. The fact of the matter is that there are already numerous laws in this nation protecting against the unlawful use of firearms that are simply not enforced. If the Obama administration and states across the country want to reduce the criminal use of firearms it is time to start prosecuting those violations to the full extent of the law and take the guns out of the hands of criminals by putting them behind bars."

Miller, who has an A-rating from the National Rifle Association, maintains that the root of gun violence is "an inadequate mental health system."

"And if we truly want to stop instances like Newtown, we must look into all of the issues that may have contributed to the problem and can serve as real solutions to future violence. The issue of an inadequate mental health system in this country that has failed to identify those who may commit these types of heinous acts before they happen and treat them effectively. The President has suggested some small steps in this direction, however more has to be done. The issue of violent video games and movies that desensitize our children toward violence and death. Nothing we do will stop those disposed to violence if we do not attack the root causes of these tragedies."