Today, marks the re-opening of the Aurora movie theater where alleged gunman James Holmes killed 12 people and wounded dozens more. This evening a private ceremony will be held for families of the victims, first responders, and officials. Some who lost loved ones during the massacre are boycotting the event and say it as an incentive measure. Others will be attending as a way to say goodbye to those that they lost.
As a response to the Aurora movie theater shooting, the Newtown tragedy and other recent acts of violence, President Obama announced his new gun policy plan on Wednesday. Some new requirements are:
Yesterday the White House announced that the American public can expect to see more of President Obama and Vice President Biden as they take their gun policy plan on the road. The administration announced that while both the president and vice president will continue to engage law enforcement officials, mayors, and governors in the process they want to speak directly to the American people about their comprehensive gun safety reform and how it can make this country a safer place.
Starting next week the Senate will begin taking up President Obama’s historic attempt to combat gun violence, where a major focus of the proposals deal with mental health. According to a Washington Post/ ABC poll 56% of Americans think inadequate treatment of mentally ill people contributes to gun violence. So on today’s show we are taking a look at the mental health efforts from two angles: the policy angle and the medical perspective. Be sure to tune in at 3:10 p.m. for the full conversation.
Abby Borovitz