Gun control laws and regulations within the United States border are desperately in need of change, President Obama made this point clear when he address the nation regarding this issue last week.
Recently, new information regarding the couple who drastically took the lives of 14 innocent people in San Bernardino, California came to light.
“We believe that both subjects were radicalized and for quite some time,” said David Bowdich, the FBI assistant director, to the New York Times. The Times also stated that the couple were at a shooting range and, “had been practicing their aim at a target range just days before their murder spree.”
“So this was an act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people,” said the president during his address to the nation Sunday night. He continued to emphasize there are many individuals in this country who oppose stricter gun controls laws, but there is a clear need for change. “But the fact is that our intelligence and law enforcement agencies — no matter how effective they are — cannot identify every would-be mass shooter, whether that individual is motivated by ISIL or some other hateful ideology. What we can do — and must do — is make it harder for them to kill.”
Unfortunately it took Colorado, Virginia, South Carolina, Oregon, Connecticut and now San Bernardino and countless other incidents for this to become apparent – even though some are still ignorantly blind. This county’s agencies are not able to detect every possible threat that enters its borders, or is already within them. It’s only becoming harder with the Republican oppositions to stricter laws.
The New York Times said regarding the president’s speech, “He called for tougher screening of travelers who come to the United States without visas and asked Congress to ban gun sales to people on the government’s no-fly list, and for limits on assault weapons.”
One of the shooters, Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, was born in in this country, so stricter screening of travelers would not have helped. Tougher gun control laws would have.While everything suggestion the president made should most definitely be followed through with, we shouldn’t be solely focused on screening just travelers. But rather, make sure even those who live in this country and are citizens are screened just as aggressively when applying for gun purchase. The issue is within the country, gun control is not strict enough and guns are to easily accessible. There should already be laws restricting sales of guns to individuals on no-fly lists and there is no need for the sale of assault weapons to continue.
“Congress should act to make sure no one on a no-fly list is able to buy a gun. What could possibly be the argument for allowing a terrorist suspect to buy a semiautomatic weapon? This is a matter of national security,” said the president during his speech. The need for change is evident, but seems to be nearing impossible with all the GOP-obstacles in Congress.
Criticism was seen from many Republicans following Obama’s speech. House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted, “Disappointing: no new plan, just a halfhearted attempt to defend and distract from a failing policy.” Of course Donal Trump tweeted his opinions as well saying, “That all there is? We need a new President — FAST!” These oppositions are clearly derived from personal Republican opinions. The president did present a new plan, one that would enforce stricter gun laws and one this country needs, and a plan that only seems unsuccessful to the ignorant.