The Republican-controlled Congress is once again betraying its leadership in the White House. After the intelligence fiasco of last month, Congress cut funds to local and state law enforcement agencies that are used to investigate and prosecute gun crimes (might need to create a login for this website). This Justice Department program, called "Project Safe Neighborhoods", was deprived of $45 millions in local grants, and a related program, which cracks down on youth gun possession, was not given any of its $106 million funding requests.

The lack of funding can be partially attributed to the disastrous deficit, which makes it difficult for Congress, as they have to have to pick and choose where to disperse money. But their actions–not only cutting the budgets of these programs, but completely eliminating their direct finances–is a severe setback in the fight for responsible and effective gun control. Shouldn't the crackdown on black market weapon sales (the primary focus of these initiatives) be a necessary and fundamental part of the fight against terrorism, a cause worthy of funding in order to preserve the safety of our homeland?

It is difficult to tell whether Congress contradicting the White House twice in as many months is a positive or negative sign. It could be a clear indication that the legislative body will govern independently, as opposed to being completely swayed by the partisan wishes of the current administration. Or it could be proof that the White House has little Congressional influence on many issues, including ones not so easily defined by party lines.

Hopefully, the $900 million that Congress provided in general assistance to state and locals, in addition to the $200 million remaining for other antigun initiatives, will be used to compensate for these losses. Though the stipulations of some of these programs have been questioned (as most intiatives that restrict gun access are), to prematurely and completely cut them out is a drastic mistake. A spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee, Republican Communications Director John Scofield, said that it was "a matter of priorities." I would hope that keeping guns off the streets (and out of the hands of criminals and children) would be a legislative priority and (as I am sure members of both parties supported the cutbacks) a bi-partisan priority.