World Gun control: Obama to be joined by children when he unveils agenda
The children accompanying Obama on
Wednesday were among those from around the country who wrote to him after
Newtown. World Glass Fast
Barack Obama is to step up pressure
on Congress to act on gun violence by surrounding himself with schoolchildren
from across the country when he unveils proposals on Wednesday aimed at
preventing a repeat of the Newtown massacre.
Although Obama can take implement
some measures almost immediately through executive action, these are limited in
scope. The wide-ranging proposals he is looking for require legislation, but he
faces opposition from Congress, particularly among Republicans, backed by the National Rifle Association.
By bringing schoolchildren to the
White House press conference, Obama can tap into some of the emotion aroused by
the Connecticut massacre in December that left 20 children and seven adults
dead.
At a White House press conference
Tuesday, the president's spokesman Jay Carney said: "I can tell you that
tomorrow the president and vice-president will hold an event here at the White
House to unveil a package of concrete proposals to reduce gun violence and
prevent future tragedies like the one in Newtown, Connecticut.
"They will be joined by
children from around world the country who wrote the president letters in the
wake of that tragedy expressing their concerns about gun violence and school
safety along with their parents."
Carney said that three measures the
president wants would require legislation: a ban on automatic weapons; a
reduction in the size of magazines holding bullets; and the closure of a
loopholes that allows the sale of weapons at gunshows without the same kind of
background checks as required elsewhere. Carney said the press conference was
scheduled for 11.45am.
A Washington
Post/ABC poll published
Tuesday showed that 52% of Americans say they support gun controls in the
wake of Newtown.
Vice-president Joe Biden, who is in charge of a taskforce set up by Obama to look
into gun controls, promised last Thursday he would make an announcement Tuesday
about his recommendations. Instead, it he has left it to Obama to take the
lead.
Briefing members of Congress on
Monday, Biden told them he had sent Obama 19 proposals that the president could
implement through executive action, including better federal data to track gun
sales.
Democratic congressman Don Barber,
who was among those briefed, told CNN on Tuesday that while much could be done
through executive action, the most serious aspects of gun control could only be
addressed through legislation.
"In order to do something
significant, we are going to have to pass laws," said Barber, a former
aide to congresswoman Gabby Giffords, shot in Tucson, Arizona, in January last
year. Barber was elected to replace Giffords.
Obama has already said that he
favours legislative action to reduce the size of weapons clips, in addition to
an automatic weapons ban. The NRA will oppose such a move and is almost certain
to be backed by Republicans, who have a majority in the House.
Congress passed just such a bill in
1994 but it was allowed to expire 10 years later.
The 19 measures may include tracking
of gun sales, addressing violence in video games and providing schools with
extra cash for security.
Biden, when drawing up
recommendations to put to the president, spoke to the gun sellers, the NRA and
video game manufacturers.
World Glass Fast
