The Washington Times (1/11, Sherfinski) reports, “Vice President Joseph R. Biden hinted Friday that a federal weapons trafficking statute and more readily available mental health assistance could be included in a set of recommendations to address gun violence in the country that he plans to deliver to President Obama by a self-imposed Tuesday deadline.”
The Los Angeles Times (1/12, Mason) reports, “Vice President Joe Biden culminated a week of meetings on gun policy Friday, telling representatives of the video game industry that ‘there’s no silver bullet’ when it comes to confronting gun violence.” The story notes that the meeting “included executives from major video game producers such as Electronic Arts and the Entertainment Software Assn. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. and Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius also attended.”
The Wall Street Journal (1/11, Lejacq) reports on the meeting noting the presence of Secretary Sebelius.
Democrats Urge Attention To Mental Health In Recommendations.The Hill (1/14, Baker) reports in its “Healthwatch” blog, “A pair of Senate Democrats on Friday pressed Vice President Biden to include expanded access to mental-health services in his recommendations for addressing gun violence. … Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) called for Biden to include mental-health parity in his recommendations to curb gun violence.”
The Hill (1/14, Viebeck) reports in its “Healthwatch” blog that Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) “urged Vice President Biden Friday not to ignore mental health issues as his panel grapples with U.S. gun violence.”
Related Links:
— “Biden broaches gun-trafficking statute, more mental health aid, “David Sherfinski, The Washington Times, January 11, 2013.