“And I believe we can respect their Second Amendment rights while taking common-sense action to prevent gun violence”, said U.S. Sen.
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Obama’s plan to broaden background checks forms the centerpiece of a broader package of measures the president plans to take on his own on gun control in his final year in office. The Obama administration is making changes in that realm by seeking to plug certain Social Security Administration data into the background check system and by helping states report more information about people barred from gun possession for mental health reasons.
Theresa O’Rourke of Downers Grove, Illinois, said she hopes Obama’s action will deter illegal transactions that have deadly consequences. He says the greatest impact will be at gun shows. With barely a year left in his presidency, he has to act quickly to roll out new policies, especially if he wants them to become ingrained and harder to rescind when the next president takes over.
“High-profile mass shootings tend to shine a light on those few mentally unstable people who inflict harm on others, but the truth is that almost two-in-three gun deaths are from suicides, so a lot our work is to prevent people from hurting themselves”, Obama said in a televised speech about the orders.
“We can’t expect people to go get the help that they need if they know that they’re going to be pariahs in society and that government somehow is going to examine their medical records”.
The president’s executive order doesn’t change who can buy a gun but rather, puts tougher regulations on anyone who sells them.
The group Arizonans for Gun Safety said 40 percent of all gun sales are unregulated, which makes it easy for criminals, domestic violence abusers and the mentally ill to obtain guns.
According to the White House statement announcing the new measures, the Federal Bureau of Investigation “will hire more than 230 additional examiners and other staff” to process background checks. The centerpiece is new federal guidance that seeks to clarify who is “in the business” of selling firearms and has to get a federal license.
The Obama administration appeared determined to tamp down expectations, with Obama saying he realizes his actions won’t stop all gun violence.
Republicans expressed opposition to the president’s unilateral approach and have already threatened to block spending on Obama’s directives.
Republican Rep. Joe Heck agreed that reducing gun violence is critical to keeping communities safe.
Citing several school shootings, Obama said the decision to enact stricter gun policies is legal and necessary. He stressed the fact that numerous actions he’s calling for can only be imposed through legislative action.
The Republican field formed a chorus of voices vowing to annul the whole package, with Marco Rubio claiming: “Obama is obsessed with undermining the Second Amendment”.
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“I just listened to Obama with his spew, and I figured I might as well come on out and get it over with”, said Carter. The NRA will continue to fight to protect the fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed under our Constitution.
