U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement today regarding a proposal by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) to expand background checks for gun purchases:
“The Manchin-Toomey proposal is a good faith but unworkable plan. The proposal will impose new taxes and unreasonable burdens on law-abiding citizens. The agreement also prioritizes collecting records over protecting citizens. As gun control special interest groups admit, the proposal expands the government’s powers to record sales of firearms at the expense of expanding the scope of background checks. This is the wrong approach. Preventing sales to dangerous persons, not collecting receipts, will save lives.
North Korea has completed preparations for a mid-range missile launch from its east coast, officials in Seoul have revealed – just hours after foreigners living in South Korea were warned to quit the country. Sen. Inhofe’s remarks at PACOM included in this report.
The Australian is reporting that US diplomat to Asia, Kurt Campbell, expects a more hardline approach from Beijing towards North Korea in coming months amid growing pressure on China from foreign governments to rein in its troublesome ally.
The United Nations’ overwhelming approval Tuesday of an arms trade treaty sets up a showdown between President Obama, the U.S. Constitution, citizens, elected officials and independent organizations supporting the Second Amendment. Member-states voted 154 votes to three, with 23 abstentions, to control trade in guns.
Sources in the Syrian opposition said on Saturday that a ship carrying Iranian arms sailing under a Tanzanian flag was in the Red Sea on its way to deliver weapons to forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad, Saudi media outlet Al-Arabiya reported.