Obama, wiping tears, makes new push to tighten gun rules

Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad, says US president


Reuters January 05, 2016
US President Barack Obama wipes tears while delivering a statement on steps the administration is taking to reduce gun violence in the East Room of the White House in Washington on January 5, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON DC: President Barack Obama on Tuesday described new steps his administration will take to tighten gun rules and urged Americans to vote for candidates who do more to prevent gun violence, wiping back tears as he remembered children who died in a mass shooting.

As Obama delivered a powerful address in the White House, surrounded by family members of people killed in shootings, his voice rose to a yell as he said the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms needed to be balanced by the right to worship, gather peacefully and live their lives.

Obama has often said his toughest time in office was grappling with the December 2012 massacre of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

"Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad," Obama said, tears rolling down his cheek.

Obama says US must act on gun violence, defends new gun control rules

"That changed me, that day," he said, after being introduced by Mark Barden, whose 7-year-old son was killed in the shooting.

"My hope earnestly has been that it would change the country."

After that tragedy, the Democratic president failed to persuade Congress to toughen US gun laws.

He has blamed lawmakers for being in the thrall of the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby group.

He said Americans need to be "just as passionate" as the NRA in changing gun laws, but acknowledged it won't happen during his final year in office.

Obama to force through gun control measures

Obama laid out executive action he is taking to require more gun sellers to get licenses and more gun buyers to undergo background checks.

Under the changes, the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will issue guidelines intended to narrow exceptions to a system that requires sellers to check with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether buyers have criminal records, are charged with crimes or have mental health conditions that would bar them from owning a gun.

Any changes to gun rules in America are fraught with political risk.

The US Constitution's 2nd Amendment gives Americans the right to have arms, a right that is fiercely defended.

Obama to meet families of San Bernardino victims

The stocks of gunmakers Smith & Wesson Holding Corp and Sturm Ruger & Co Inc have climbed since the announcement.

On Tuesday morning, Smith & Wesson jumped was up 10 per cent to $25.58 a share and Sturm Ruger was up more than 6 per cent at $65.46.

Legal challenges to the changes are expected and Republican presidential candidates have promised to reverse his order if they win the White House.

But Obama, entering his eighth and last year in office, has said his measures are within his authority and consistent with the Constitution.

COMMENTS (3)

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply The afro american President can neither understand nor appreciate the American constitution, yet he wants changes. It is not the Gun mr President but the mind set which uses the gun for carnage and not for self protection. Stop American aggressive stance ansd put an end to torture centres within and outside the country. Your people want peace and so do the people of the world. Rex Minor
John B | 8 years ago | Reply Law abiding citizens do not care if there is a law or not. Laws are made only to punish the criminals and criminals don't care for laws, whether they are for gun control, or drunk driving. This is a feel good executive order, which though may be within his executive power, it has only power until his term, and the incoming president will be under hot seat to repeal it. I will not be surprised if this can turn into a political fight that energizes the republicans and independents. If executive powers can be used towards streamlining constitutional rights ( whether that constitutional right is good or bad is irrelevant ), then there is no difference between a dictatorship or a tyrant. He should have went through the congress however hard fight it might have been.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ