Weekly Address: Now Is The Time to Take Action Against Gun Violence
Hi, everybody. This week, I announced a series of concrete steps we should take to protect our children and our communities from gun violence.
These proposals grew out of meetings Vice President Biden
and his task force held over the last month with more than 200 different
groups – from parents and teachers; to law enforcement and sportsmen;
to religious leaders and mental health professionals.
And in the weeks ahead, I will do everything in my power
to make them a reality. Because while we may not be able to prevent
every senseless act of violence in this country, if there is even one
thing we can do to reduce it – if even one life can be saved – we’ve got
an obligation to try.
My administration is taking a series of actions right away
– from strengthening our background check system, to helping schools
hire more resource officers if they want them, to directing the Centers
for Disease Control to study the best ways to reduce gun violence.
But the truth is, making a real and lasting difference also requires Congress to act – and act soon.
First, it’s time for Congress to require a universal
background check for anyone trying to buy a gun. The law already
requires licensed gun dealers to perform these checks, but as many as
40% of all gun purchases are conducted without one. That’s not safe,
it’s not smart, and it’s not fair to responsible gun buyers or sellers.
An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that anyone trying to buy a
gun should at least have to prove they’re not a felon, or someone
legally prohibited from owning one. That’s just common sense.
Second, Congress should restore a ban on military-style
assault weapons, and a 10-round limit for magazines. Many assault
rifles, when combined with high-capacity magazines, have one purpose and
one purpose only: to fire as many bullets as possible as quickly as
possible. These weapons have no place in our communities. And a majority
of the American people agree with me.
Finally, Congress needs to make it easier, rather than
harder, for law enforcement to do its job. We should get tougher on
people who buy guns only to turn around and sell them to criminals. And
at a time when many communities have been forced to make cuts to their
police force, we should put more cops back on the job and back on the
street.
Like most Americans, I believe the Second Amendment
guarantees an individual right to bear arms. We have a strong tradition
of gun ownership in this country, and the vast majority of gun owners
act responsibly.
But I also believe most gun owners agree that we can
respect the Second Amendment while keeping an irresponsible,
law-breaking few from causing harm on a massive scale. That’s what these
reforms are designed to do.
None of this will be easy. Already, we’re seeing pundits,
politicians, and special-interest lobbyists calling any attempt at
commonsense reform an all-out assault on liberty – not because that’s
true, but because that’s how they get higher ratings and make more
money. And behind the scenes, they’re doing everything they can to
protect the status quo.
But this time, it can’t be up to them. It’s got to be up
to you. If, like me, you want this time to be different, then I need
your help to make it different. Ask your Member of Congress if they
support universal background checks and renewing a ban on military-style
assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. And if the answer is no,
ask them why not. Ask them why an A-grade from the gun lobby is more
important than keeping kids safe in a first grade classroom.
Since the tragedy in Newtown, I’ve gotten letters from all
over the country – including many from our young people. One of them
was from 8-year-old Rachel, who lives in Brooklyn, New York. She wrote:
“Please do something so that bad people cannot get guns to kill other
people. Children should be safe, especially in school.”
Rachel is counting on us. Let’s get this done for her, and
let’s make this country a safer place for all our children to learn and
grow.
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
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