President Obama Speaks On Gun Control, Introduces New Laws To Reduce Gun Violence
A great deal of steps to control gun production and purchases have been introduced since several different shooting tragedies rocked the United States in the past few years. Some of these included stricter background checks for those wishing to purchase guns, better and more numerous treatment centers for the mentally ill, and added layers of protection in areas like schools and malls.
President Obama seems to have had some trouble passing these proposals into law, but it’s clear he agrees with the majority of them, and recently he spoke on the status of getting the gun control laws in place. ABC News discovered that Obama proposed the implementation of “Smart Guns” that work only in the owner’s hands during a public speech in January. He urged several departments of state to work on research that would make smart guns possible in a shorter time frame. This technology might help with incidents such as the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where the shooter was able to use his mother’s guns to carry out the assault.
Obama has also come out as a strong advocate of other regulations that had been proposed, including strengthening background checks for gun buyers as well as upgrading the mental health infrastructure in the U.S. He noted that America is the only civilized country where mass shootings occur on a regular basis and expressed a staunch determination to resolve that problem.
One major problem that has stood in the way of gun control laws passing is anti-gun-control lobbying. The National Rifle Association is possibly one of the biggest organizations opposing gun control laws and has a large influence over Washington.
The issue of gun control has also divided the American public, with some claiming that outlawing guns will make it so only criminals and others who disregard laws anyway would have access to guns. Others are also concerned that using guns for self-defense against potential burglars and other dangers could become a thing of the past.
As the New York Times mentioned, Obama also outlined a gun-control policy that would give the FBI more access to the mental health records of social security recipients. This might help the government more easily identify those who could be at risk for carrying out shootings and better choose who might be risky with a gun in their hands.
Part of the problem, however, also lies in the fact that there is no real “profile” of the typical shooter. Although shooters often have a history of mental illness, it is not always present. Some shooters do not stand out at all and can appear perfectly stable right up until the day of the shooting. Other cases, like the gunman in Colorado Springs, Colorado, who attacked a Planned Parenthood building, can be motivated by political or religious beliefs.
Obama Presses ‘Smart Guns,’ Announces Gun Control Summit! No Smart Guns ~>More Smart People! https://t.co/4LDT80RNLL pic.twitter.com/kvd07kWpan
— Ron Hutchcraft™ (@Ron_Hutchcraft) April 30, 2016
President Obama also proposed consequences for those who do not follow the new gun-control laws, as well. Fact-Check.com mentions that in January of this year, President Obama gave an emotional speech suggesting that those who violate the law by selling a gun when they are not licensed to do so will be prosecuted.
This form of prosecution can involve up to five years in prison as well as a fine of $250,000. Obama also wants to crack down on gun sales that happen online, stating that these dealers would have to live up to the same expectations as brick-and-mortar sellers.
The counter-argument to this has been that it is difficult to track guns once they are sold, and it’s unlikely criminals would turn in their guns using trade-in programs suggested by the government. Some also argue that any gun control law infringes on the Second Amendment right to bear arms, which the Founding Fathers put in place to help the people defend against a corrupt government.
[Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images]
