President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden have announced a series of measures to tackle gun violence in the US, in the aftermath of the school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.
Obama signed a series of Executive Orders to give effect to 23 separate executive actions, including:
- requiring background checks for all gun sales
- strenthening the background check system
- passing a new, stronger ban on assault weapons
- limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds
- getting armor-piercing bullets off the streets
- ending the freeze on gun violence research
- counsellors and emergency response plans in schools
- mental health treatment.
Transcript of remarks by President Obama and Vice-President Biden on tackling gun violence.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Before I begin today, let me say to the families of the innocents who were murdered 33 days ago, our heart goes out to you. And you show incredible courage — incredible courage — being here. And the President and I are going to do everything in our power to honor the memory of your children and your wives with the work we take up here today.
It’s been 33 days since the nation’s heart was broken by the horrific, senseless violence that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School — 20 — 20 beautiful first-graders gunned down in a place that’s supposed to be their second sanctuary. Six members of the staff killed trying to save those children. It’s literally been hard for the nation to comprehend, hard for the nation to fathom.
