An hour before the broadcast, the New York Times published an op-ed written by Obama, in which he outlines the rationale behind his changes, and adding that he will only campaign a presidential candidate who supports “common-sense gun reform”.
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The television special comes two days after Obama announced a modest series of executive actions meant to better enforce existing gun laws, primarily by cracking down on unlicensed gun dealers who evade background checks by selling guns for profit at gun shows and online. The new regulations have faced widespread opposition, even though the United States has the highest rate of gun violence among any developed country in the world.
Speaking at a CNN town hall on gun violence in America, Obama says he can understand why an Iowan living in a rural area would want to own a gun for protection, while gun ownership in Chicago can be more risky.
Visibly frustrated, Obama questioned why there is so much division between parties and groups when it comes to guns and everyone postulates about his hidden agenda after mass shootings, but when he tries to reform the pharmaceutical industry to keep unsafe pills away from the public, no one ever accuses him of “trying to take everyone’s drugs”.
“Issues like licensing, registration, that’s an area where there’s just not enough national consensus at this stage to even consider it. And part of it is, is people’s concern that that becomes a prelude to taking people’s guns away”, Obama replied. “When I see you, I think about my own youth”. Bidgood feels that “this situation could not have been prevented with tighter gun control laws or an Executive order”.
Obama later appeared on CNN in a town-hall style forum to challenge critics who he said have “mischaracterised” his position.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) declined to participate in the event. “I would argue that it’s not necessarily that I think someone is going to take my gun from me, it’s that I have the hope, the hope that I can protect myself … that I have the freedom to carry whatever weapon I think I need”, she said.
The President said the NRA and many members of the Republican Party were previously in favor of background checks.
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The Republican frontrunner said what the President got wrong was “the concept” behind his efforts, not his emotion. Asked how business has been since Obama took office, Kris Jacob, vice president of the group, replied: “It’s been busy”.
