you mean SEMI-AUTO ASSAULT PEN MT @markknoller WH tonight will use the Autopen to sign 10-year extension of law to ban plastic guns.
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 10, 2013
The president is on his way to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, so the Undetectable Firearms Act will be signed by Autopen tonight, extending the ban on plastic guns for another 10 years.
The Senate today voted final approval to extend the Undetectable Firearms Act. If not signed into law today, it would expire at midnight.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/Roger247/status/410205993046245376
The Washington Times’ Emily Miller, author of “Emily Gets Her Gun,” is not impressed.
Autopen for gun that doesn't exist MT @markknoller Obama is out of country, WH will use Autopen to sign 10-yr extension plastic gun ban.
— Emily Miller (@emilymiller) December 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/ItsBarryYo/status/410205484591755264
@EmilyMiller @markknoller convenient way for Obama to deny having anything to do w/ passing gun legislation if he's not around to sign em
— I AM THE MILITIA (@Basic_Problem) December 10, 2013
@iowahawkblog @markknoller so something approximating a human action will outlaw something approximating a real gun, is the law imaginary?
— Hermesch Sterben (@HermHenry) December 10, 2013
Will citizens sleep more soundly tonight knowing they’re safe for another 10 years from plastic guns that don’t exist?
https://twitter.com/UnholyRouleur/status/410208066807009280
By Knoller’s count, this is the fourth time the president has used the Autopen to sign legislation.
By my count, it will be the 4th time out of over 700 bill signings, that Pres Obama has used the Autopen to sign a bill into law.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 10, 2013
The White House cites a 29-page Justice Dept legal opinion to authorize the use of a mechanical device to sign a bill into law.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 10, 2013
The DOJ opinion from 2005 concludes that "the President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 10, 2013
But the Constitution makes no provision for a facsimile signature. It says if the president approves of a bill, "he shall sign it."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 10, 2013
Join the conversation as a VIP Member