Obama, comparing the issue to the great civil rights causes of his time, is set to discuss gun violence again during a live televised town hall on CNN on Thursday, and during his State of the Union address next Tuesday.
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Earlier this week a tearful Obama said unilateral measures were needed to tackle USA gun violence.
With new federal “guidance”, the administration is clarifying that even those who sell just a few weapons at gun shows, flea markets or online can be deemed dealers and required to conduct checks on prospective buyers.
When President Barack Obama openly wept this week while discussing efforts crack down on America’s gun culture, reactions were divided.
Republican lawmakers have been critical of Obama, saying he focused his actions on law-abiding citizens rather than on criminals and terrorist. It’s an argument Obama has used before when opposition in Congress has led him to take sweeping executive action on immigration, climate change and other issues.
“From this urban setting, where guns and gun violence remain far too prevalent, I embrace President Obama’s initiative to curb gun violence as I should think most American mayors will”, Harp said in a statement released by her office.
Obama sought tougher laws after the Newtown massacre, but said he was foiled by the NRA.
An emotional Obama wiped tears away from his eye as he recalled the 20 first-graders killed in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“All of us need to demand leaders fearless enough to stand up to the gun lobby’s lies”.
“The NRA has convinced many of its members that somebody’s going to come grab your guns, which is by the way, really profitable for the gun manufacturers”. A recent Gallup Poll found “only one percent of respondents mentioned guns/gun control as a concern for most of the months in 2015”.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Representative John Culberson, Republican of Texas and a key appropriator on Capitol Hill, threatened to block federal funding for the Department of Justice unless Obama’s measures are rolled back, according to The Hill. It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing it over the Internet or at a gun show. That represents a stark contrast from the Clinton administration’s approach in the 1990s, when the White House successfully slashed the number of licensees by raising fees on license applications and requiring applicants to submit both fingerprints and photographs to the ATF.
“I think this is a very courageous step”, said one supporter.
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Obama’s remarks and recourse to controversial executive actions during an election year ensure that gun control will feature prominently in the 2016 race for the White House.
