The problem of gun violence and mass killings has been a pressing issue in the past couple of years. When defining mass killings as cases with four or more victims, there have been more than 200 mass killings since 2006 in the U.S. according to USA Today. The most recent case was on Dec. 2, 2015 with the public shooting in San Bernardio, CA when 14 were killed and 21 injured. Also in 2015 was the public shooting in Charleston, SC with the white gunman killing nine people in a historic black church. Also according to USA Today, 30 cases of mass killings occurred in 2015.
On Jan. 5, 2016, President Obama announced executive action on gun control, calling for a nationwide effort to put an end to gun violence. He gave this speech at the White House’s East Room, and was introduced by a father whose son was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting. During President Obama’s speech, he teared up while recalling what occurred at Sandy Hook.
The new gun control policies will result in expanding background checks for individuals who purchase guns. Additionally, the new gun control actions will increase mental health treatment and require reports to the background check system. While the new policy will not take away everyone’s guns, the hope is to make sure that everyone who does purchase a gun should be allowed to and has been checked. Stricter gun policies have been brought up in the past, but in 2013 Congress blocked a gun bill similar to what Obama is suggesting.
Two days after President Obama announced the executive action on gun control, a town hall was held at George Mason University to discuss guns in America. During the town hall covered by CNN, President Barack Obama talked to gun owners, gun sellers, people who have survived gun shootings, and people who have lost loved ones due to guns. A main point President Obama continually pointed out is that he is not trying to take away everyone’s guns. He stated, “What I’ve said consistently throughout my presidency is I respect the Second Amendment, I respect the right to bear arms. I respect people who want a gun for self-protection, for hunting, for sportsmanship.” Along with this statement, he added that he is not expecting for gun violence to disappear completely, but instead is hoping for a decrease in gun ownership for those with a red flag in a background system.
