Now that his final year at the White House has started, President Barack Obama is doing his best in order to come with a solution to one of the most important issues that the United States have been dealing with lately: gun control.
This Thursday, he is expected to join CNN’s Anderson Cooper for an one-hour live town hall, hosted at George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia. Even though gun control is an issues with which he has had zero success so far, in his two terms as president, Barack Obama is still optimistic.
The Congress stand in front of the idea
The biggest roadblack is, according to CNN Politics, the U.S. Congress, which, despite the widespread public support the President’s past calls had, was unable to pass new gun laws.
Not once Barack Obama has expressed his frustration regarding this situation, considering that increased control should be immediately considered, especially in the wake of the recent mass shootings.
The above-mentioned source also claims that the President is planning to meet this Monday with Attorney General Loretta Lynch, in order to discuss the options they have for tougher gun restrictions. Also, the next days should bring another announcement, related to expanding background checks on gun sales. The new actions should be revealed before January 12, when President Barack Obama will hold his annual Stated of the Union address.
Background checks aren’t mandatory
Currently, the United States are dealing with the so-called “gun show loophole”, allowing certain gun sellers to avoid conduction background checks before selling guns. Therefore, President Barack Obama considers that the Congress should act in order to make these checks fully universal. Also, advocates and administration lawyers are exploiting a provision in the law that could allow Barack Obama to expand this background check requirement to additional sellers.
Gun control advocates are also expecting new regulations on reporting lost and stolen guns as well. Currently, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is required to investigate gun theft if more than 10 guns are stolen and one of them is used in a crime, a number which should definitely change.
President Barack Obama basically announced his upcoming actions regarding gun control in his weekly address.
In the end, it’s all for the safety of U.S. citizens
“Change, as always, is going to take all of us,” Obama said in his address. “The gun lobby is loud and well organized in its defense of effortlessly available guns for anyone. The rest of us are going to have to be just as passionate and well organized in our defense of our kids. That’s the work of citizenship — to stand up and fight for the change that we seek.”
“We know that we can’t stop every act of violence,” the President added. “But what if we tried to stop even one? What if Congress did something — anything — to protect our kids from gun violence?”
Barack Obama‘s move comes as a response to Republican candidates threats to undo any executive actions he’s planning against guns, in the eventuality of one of them replacing him as President.
