Today in Gun Reform (or the Lack Thereof)

ABC News: President Obama Launches Gun-Violence Task Force. When a problem is too complex and/or the best solution is the most unpopular one, launch a task force! At least VP Joe Biden is leading it, as Aphra mentioned, which means it might actually propose some genuinely meaningful reforms.

New York Times: Obama to Give Congress Plan on Gun Control Within Weeks. Meanwhile: "The president's pledge came as House Republicans restated their firm opposition to enacting any new limits on firearms or ammunition." Of course. Because they are assholes.

CNN: NRA Breaks Silence After Shootings; May Now Offer 'Meaningful Contributions'.

The National Rifle Association, with roughly 4.3 million members, deactivated its Facebook page, had stopped tweeting on its Twitter account and had been issuing a "no comment" to any media outlet, including CNN, seeking a response.

But late Tuesday, the group broke that silence with a statement:

"The National Rifle Association of America is made up of four million moms and dads, sons and daughters -- and we were shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders in Newtown. Out of respect for the families, and as a matter of common decency, we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting. The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again," the group said. It plans to hold "a major news conference" on Friday and both their Facebook and Twitter presences are active again.

But despite the relative radio silence early on from the powerful lobbying group's offices in Fairfax, Virginia, the organization is regrouping in anticipation of a massive legislative push to introduce or, in some cases, reintroduce gun control legislation, say former NRA officers and gun policy experts.

I just can't even.

The Hill: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) Urges People to Turn in Their Guns. I saw MSNBC contributor Goldie Taylor, who is a trauma survivor and former Marine, say that she was going to turn in her gun after the shooting. It was a very powerful segment. I find it interesting (which is a simple word that I'm using to encapsulate what could be an entire post on its own) that in the wake of another mass shooting by a white man, it is black women urging people to turn in their guns and volunteering to turn in their own.

Bloomberg: American Gun Deaths to Exceed Traffic Fatalities by 2015. Welp, maybe we should regulate licensing to operate and ownership of guns at least as seriously as we do licensing to operate and ownership of cars. Just a thought!