Swift reaction by associations to Obama's inaugural address
Issue areas mentioned in President Barack Obama’s second inaugural address earlier this week - including climate change, technology and gun control - drew swift reactions from a wide swath of associations, the National Rifle Association among them.
International District Energy Association, Westborough, Mass., was glad to hear the president discus his intention to deal with climate change. “IDEA members are eager to support the president and Congress in moving forward to address climate change by increasing the efficiency and resiliency of the energy infrastructure serving our cities, communities and campuses through greater adoption of district energy and combined heat and power (CHP) systems," IDEA CEO Robert P. Thornton said.
On the issue of technology, Obama stressed that, “We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government....We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries.” Tom Gavin, external affairs VP at Information Technology Industry Council, Washington, said, “From innovation to immigration, from the power of technology to transform our society to the power of our imagination to find solutions to long-standing challenges, the President’s inaugural address spoke to the heart of our sector’s shared priorities.”
Obama mentioned last month’s shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., which drew comment in regards to his position on gun control measures from National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre. “When Barack Obama says, 'we cannot mistake absolutism for principle,' what he's saying is that precision and clarity and exactness in language and law should be abandoned in favor of his nebulous, undefined 'principles,'" LaPierre said in a statement. “I've got news for the president. Absolutes do exist.” He added, “We believe in our right to defend ourselves and our families with semi-automatic technology.”
Taking an opposing view, the National League of Cities, Washington, released a statement affirming that, “NLC's National Municipal Policy on Public Safety and Crime Prevention has long called for federal action to curb automatic weapons and establish a system of universal background checks.”
