U.S. president, Barack Obama, cried on Tuesday, January 5, as he unveiled new executive gun control measures following last month’s deadly attack in San Bernardino, California.
“Every single year, 30,000 Americans have their lives cut short by guns,” Obama noted, while discussing his agenda to hedge gun violence, something he referred to as the most infuriating issue he’s faced since he entered the Oval Office.
The president shared that his new executive actions will require stringent background checks for those looking to secure licenses to bear arms. The police will also require businesses selling arms to procure a federal license.
In his speech, POTUS wept as he recalled the damage done to countless innocent lives, particularly during the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, that claimed the lives of 26 people.
“Our right to peaceful assembly — that right was robbed from moviegoers in Aurora, high schoolers in Columbine and from first graders in Newtown,” he said as he paused and blinked back tears. “First graders. And from every family who’d never imagined that their loved one would be taken from our lives by a bullet from a gun.”
Obama then paused again and wiped away tears from his eyes as he delivered his thoughts. “Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad,” the Commander in Chief said as he pointed his finger with emphasis. “And by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day.”
Tears stained Obama’s face as the audience applauded in agreement. “So, all of us need to demand a Congress brave enough to stand up to the gun lobby’s lies,” he argued. “All of us need to stand up and protect its citizens. All of us need to demand governors and legislators and businesses do their part to make communities safer. We need the wide majority of gun owners to grieve with us every time this happens … and demand something better.” -US Magazine.
