The White House also has said the Federal Bureau of Investigation is overhauling the background check system to make it more efficient and will hire more than 230 additional examiners and other staff to help process background checks around the clock.
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The US president became visibly upset as he recalled the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut in 2012, in which 20 young children were killed. “Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad”. “Andy by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day”.
U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) later called the moves “commonsense steps” to tackle a complex problem.
Obama announced new executive actions on Tuesday aimed at requiring background checks for all gun sales, including on the Internet and at gun shows, which are now exempt. If anything, the administration conceded it is working at the margins as Obama is stymied by Congress and can only act within the confines of his executive authority to recommit to the rule of law.
Obama had barely begun detailing his plan to expand background checks and close the so-called “gun show loophole” when the National Rifle Association weighed in.
And her campaign highlighted Republican candidates’ criticism of Obama’s comments on its website, warning that a GOP president would undo Obama’s actions. But there is another point here as well.
In response to the announcement, Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke called it an attack on Second Amendment rights.
The federal government is also finalizing a rule to require background checks for those who try to buy sawed-off shotguns, machine guns and similar weapons through a trust, corporation or other legal entity. Clinton, however, cautioned that such actions could be undone if a Republican is elected to the White House later this year. Obama, in his White House address, said there was no “slippery slope” towards eroding gun owners’ rights and confiscating guns.
“Due to this overreaching executive action, we anticipate a surge in the number of applications for concealed weapon licenses in Florida, and we are preparing to meet this increased demand”, said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose office handles concealed weapons permits.
Pew framed the question differently, asking respondents whether it is more important to control gun ownership or to protect the right of Americans to own guns.
“I reject that thinking”, Obama said, arguing it would be worth it if the measures would prevent even a single gun death. In addition, national Republican lawmakers who have long fought gun control measures have instead contended that the nation should be spending more money on better mental health care.
We reached out to Eastman’s, since they have a show at the end of this month in Savannah, to see if the executive action will affect participation.
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What’s more, none of the steps would have probably prevented any of the recent mass shootings that Obama invoked in the East Room: Aurora, Oak Creek, Charleston, Newtown, to name some.
