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U.S. NEWS A3
Wednesday 6 January 2016

An emotional Obama unveils his plan to cut gun violence

Kayla Brown, left, wears her gun on her hip while working at the guidance that says the checks. Public opinion The impact of Obama’s
Spring Guns and Ammo store Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, in Spring, government should deem polls show Americans plan on gun violence re-
Texas. President Barack Obama defended his plans to tighten anyone “in the business” of overwhelmingly support mains a major question,
the nation’s gun-control restrictions on his own, insisting Monday selling guns to be a dealer, expanding background and one not easily an-
that the steps he’ll announce fall within his legal authority and regardless of where he or checks for gun purchases, swered. Had the rules been
uphold the constitutional right to own a gun. she sells the guns. To that but are more divided on in place in the past, the
end, the government will the broader question of steps wouldn’t likely have
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip) consider other factors, in- stricter gun laws. About a prevented any of the re-
cluding how many guns a third of Americans live in a cent mass shootings that
person sells, how frequent- household where at least have garnered national
ly, and whether those guns one person owns a gun. attention. The Obama ad-
are sold for a profit. Particularly in rural areas ministration acknowledged
The White House also put where firearms are a way it couldn’t quantify how
sellers on notice that the of life, many citizens do not many gun sales would be
administration planned to believe gun laws should be newly subjected to back-
strengthen enforcement made stricter. The reverse is ground checks, nor how
— including deploying 230 true in urban areas, where many currently unregis-
new examiners the FBI will majorities want tighter fire- tered gun sellers would
hire to process background arm regulations. have to obtain a license.q

JOSH LEDERMAN next month with the first pri-
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A mary contests.
visibly emotional President
Barack Obama, at one Accusing Obama of gross
point wiping tears from his
cheek, unveiled his plan overreach, many of the
Tuesday to tighten control
and enforcement of fire- Republican presidential
arms in the U.S., using his
presidential powers in the candidates have vowed to
absence of legal changes
he implored Congress to rip up the new gun restric-
pass. Obama accused the tions upon taking office.
gun lobby of taking Con- Democratic front-runner
gress hostage, but said Hillary Clinton said she was
“they cannot hold Ameri- proud of Obama’s efforts
ca hostage.” He insisted it and promised she would
was possible to uphold the safeguard them.
Second Amendment while Obama wiped tears away
doing something to tack- as he recalled the 20 young
le the frequency of mass children killed in 2012 at
shootings in the U.S. that Sandy Hook Elementary
he said had become “the School in Newtown, Con-
new normal.” The much- necticut. He paid tribute to
debated Second Amend- the parents, some of whom
ment of the Constitution gathered for the ceremo-
guarantees the right of citi- ny, who he said had never
zens to own firearms. imagined their child’s life
“This is not a plot to take would be cut short by a
away everybody’s guns,” bullet. At the centerpiece
Obama said. “You pass a of Obama’s plan is a more
background check, you sweeping definition of gun
purchase a firearm. The dealers that the adminis-
problem is some gun sellers tration hopes will expand
have been operating un- the number of sales subject
der a different set of rules.” to background checks. Un-
Obama’s actions ensure der current law, only feder-
that gun rights — one of ally licensed gun dealers
the most bitterly divisive is- must conduct background
sues in America — will be checks on buyers. But at
at the forefront of the 2016 gun shows, websites and
presidential campaign, flea markets, sellers often
which begins in earnest skirt that requirement by
declining to register as li-
censed dealers.
Aiming to narrow that loop-
hole, the Justice Depart-
ment’s Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco, Firearms and Ex-

plosives is issuing updated