World

Failure to act on gun control is 'political decision': Obama

Obama has renewed his calls for legislation to curb gun violence

Afp October 03, 2015

PHOTO: WHITEHOUSE

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama warned Friday that failure to act on gun control was a "political decision" and vowed to keep pushing for reform after America's latest mass shooting.

"Our inaction is a political decision that we are making," Obama said, urging voters to help drive through gun safety laws that have been blocked in the Republican-controlled Congress.

"You have to make sure that anybody who you are voting for is on the right side of this issue."

Read: Campus violence: At least 15 dead in Oregon college shooting

Obama has renewed his calls for legislation to curb gun violence following Thursday's carnage at a community college in rural Oregon, which left 10 dead including the 26-year-old shooter.

Read: After Oregon shooting, angry Obama blasts US gun politics

"Let's not forget this is happening every single day in forgotten neighborhoods around the country. Every single day. Kids are just running for their lives trying to get to school," Obama said.

"I think it's abnormal. I think we should change it. But I can't do it by myself."

COMMENTS (2)

curious2 | 9 years ago | Reply The one thing missing in Obama's speech is exactly what specific gun control law would have prevented this tragedy? Gun control is a political term which implies that there is a magic bullet that would somehow eliminate these tragedies ... but when you view the various proposed "controls" they don't have any logical connection to the events. Registering guns doesn't stop someone from using them - especially someone who seem intent on killing others including themselves. Obama surely knows this which makes these speeches callous and political.

Buba | 9 years ago | Reply Obama always talks about how "gun control" will stop these mass shootings ... but he never/ever says what specific law would have prevented any single event. The shooter in question owned a number of guns - which is common in a place like Roseburg where hunting is regular pastime - the guns owned were purchased legally and none of them were on any proposed list of banned guns. Maybe he would be better off permitting free mental health care as the people who are involved in these shootings have one thing in common - their crazy.

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