Every time the president talks about gun control, these numbers increase, and, in effect, the president’s opponents are strengthened. In light of the many mass shootings during his time in office, Obama said he’s exhausted of waiting for Congress to act, so he’s pursuing measures at reducing gun violence via executive action, without any help from Congress. But, he added optimistically, “a lot of things don’t happen overnight”. “And in a loud voice they say – as they’ve said in three years of Quinnipiac University polls – let’s do background checks”. Since there is no statewide gun registry, private rifle and long gun sales can easily go untraced.
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In his experience, which includes overseeing more than two dozen annual gun shows in OH, gun shows are heavily overseen by undercover ATF agents looking for illegal sellers. “But even so, millions of guns will be sold online without background checks unless Congress or states pass universal background checks, as 18 states have done on their own”.
Researchers say a decline in hunting is partly responsible for the shrinking number of households with a gun.
Obama maintained that these steps are within his constitutional authority. Gun sales in Ferguson, Missouri, soared in the months following protests that came as a response to the police killing of black teenager Michael Brown in August 2014. “We maybe can’t save everybody, but we could save some”. “That changed me, that day”, he said, after being introduced by Mark Barden, whose 7-year-old son was killed in the shooting.
Obama readily conceded the executive steps will be challenged in court, a prediction quickly echoed by Republicans.
The Obama administration this week sent individual letters to the nation’s governors – Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder among them – asking that they make sure state agencies are supplying all criminal and mental health information used for background checks on people purchasing firearms.
Sanders, who has opposed some so-called gun control measures in the past, also offered support for Obama’s announcement, saying “It’s become clear that no mass shooting, no matter how big or bloody, will inspire Republicans to put children and innocent Americans over the interests of the NRA”. Suicide alone counts for 2 in 3 gun deaths, Obama said.
Tovy Hoover, founder of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, called the changes, including asking for $500 million for treating mental illness, a good start, but they don’t require background checks for every gun sale or restrict those on the “no fly” list from obtaining firearms. Other provisions aim to better track lost or stolen guns and prevent trusts or corporations from buying risky weapons without background checks.
At a campaign rally in Iowa Tuesday, Ted Cruz dismissed Obama’s proposals as “not worth the paper they are printed on”. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, both competing for the nomination from Obama’s party, praised the president and pledged to build on his actions if elected.
Others voiced concern about possible Second Amendment infringements.
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“Rather than focus on criminals and terrorists, he goes after the most law-abiding of citizens”, said Ryan, R-Wis.
