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U.S. NEWS A5
Tuesday 5 January 2016

Obama: Gun actions consistent with 2nd Amendment

Attorney General Loretta Lynch listens as President Barack Obama speaks in the Oval Office of the to own guns. December 2012 shooting
White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, during a meeting with law enforcement officials Flanked by his attorney that killed 20 children and
to discuss executive actions the president can take to curb gun violence. The president is slated general and the head of six educators at Sandy
to finalize a set of new executive actions tightening U.S. gun laws, kicking off his last year in office the FBI, Obama insisted Hook Elementary school
with a clear signal that he intends to prioritize one of the country’s most intractable issues. Monday that the steps in Newtown, Connecticut.
he’ll announce fall within The president failed to push
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) his legal authority and up- a package of gun mea-
hold the constitutional right sures through Congress,
JOSH LEDERMAN the country’s most intrac- powerful gun industry lobby to own a gun but offered including one expanding
Associated Press table issues. and opposing some mea- few details about the list background checks.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- The president has been sures he says a majority of of recommendations he’s At the same time, Obama
dent Barack Obama on looking for ways to work Americans support, includ- received and will come took nearly two dozen ex-
Monday defended his ad- around a Republican-led ing expanded background out with over the next few ecutive actions to tighten
ministration’s plans to tight- Congress that has blocked checks on gun sales. But days. gun laws, but left a major
en the nation’s gun-control his previous efforts to tight- the issue of gun control Behind the scenes, though, expansion of background
restrictions without going en gun laws in the wake bitterly divides Americans, Obama’s administration checks out of the mix.
through Congress, kicking of mass shootings. Obama with many viewing any at- has been preparing an ef- But after the shooting at
off his last year in office has accused Republicans tempt to regulate firearms fort to expand background a community college in
with a clear signal that he — and some Democrats — as a possible infringement checks on gun sales by Roseburg, Oregon in Oc-
intends to prioritize one of of being beholden to the on their constitutional rights forcing more sellers to reg- tober, a weary and angry
ister as federally licensed Obama ordered his staff to
gun dealers. redouble the effort to look
“This is not going to solve for ways to work around
every violent crime in this Congress.
country,” Obama said, set- On Thursday, Obama
ting expectations for what will take his argument to
he can do on his own. “It’s prime time, participating
not going to prevent every in a town hall discussion of
mass shooting; it’s not go- gun violence on CNN. He’s
ing to keep every gun out slated to make his case for
of the hands of a criminal. changes in his State of the
It will potentially save lives Union address on Jan. 12.
and spare families the pain Under current law, federal-
of these extraordinary loss- ly licensed firearms dealers
es.” are required to seek back-
After all-but ignoring the is- ground checks on poten-
sue in his first term, Obama tial firearm purchasers. q
changed course after the