[Speaking Truth To Power]
On Wednesday, President Barack Obama introduced a number of initiatives to combat the scourge of gun violence plaguing the country—especially in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre in Newton, Connecticut.
But given the influence of the NRA gun lobby in Washington, will Congress finally act by implementing sensible gun legislation to stem the tide of blood that is now flowing in America?
Around noon, Wednesday, President Obama revealed multiple measures he plans to incorporate into legislation he will introduce next week to curb current levels of gun violence that has brought the gun control debate to the forefront of American politics.
At the White House meeting, the president was joined by Vice President Joe Biden as well as family members and children who were affected by the killing of 27 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut last December 14. The president’s recommendations came days after Vice President Joe Biden’s task force examining gun violence concluded. The task force, initiated by President Obama, spoke to people on all sides of the gun control, gun rights, and gun violence divide.
Among the actions the president is pursuing are enhanced processes for background checks on gun purchases, a ban on new assault weapons, restrictions on high-capacity magazines and more rigorous gun trafficking laws to stem the flow of weapons. The president also issued a number of executive actions devised to intensify the enforcement of current gun laws, revamp the process of information sharing between federal agencies to prevent criminals from obtaining guns, and pushing for funding to strengthen mental health services in schools.
In his remarks, the president admitted average Americans are the only ones who can change the situation of gun violence. “I tell you, the only way we can change is if the
