On January 7, President Barack Obama accepted CNN’s proposal for a Town Hall meeting at George Mason University in Fairfax County, Va. where he was given the opportunity to speak to a gathering of citizens and leaders of various communities who had inquiries about gun control. This was shown during a live Anderson Cooper 360° segment.
During the town hall, he was given the opportunity to speak with many people who had diverse and strong views on how the gun control situation should be handled. Several of those present included Gabby Giffords, a former Democratic member of the House of Representatives who was a victim of gun violence in 2011; and the widow of Chris Kyle, a former soldier who was killed at a shooting range in 2013.
The President could not have made it any clearer that his intention to regulate gun possession does not mean that he plans on taking anyone's guns or Second Amendment rights away, contrary to popular opinion. Rather, his goal during his final year as President is to make sure that those getting a hold of the guns are mentally stable and have no criminal record -- which sounds reasonable, if you ask me. The official requirements for the background checks have yet to be revealed.
If one has the ability to pass the background checks, one should be able to attain a small hand-held gun, with a proper license. Many U.S. citizens like the idea of being able to protect oneself in need of an emergency and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, there is no reason why any normal, day-to-day citizen needs a large semi-automatic weapon like the ones used at Sandy Hook and at the San Bernardino shootings. This country needs to be smart about these decisions, it should not be a free-for- all nor a right that is completely denied.
What has become interesting about Obama’s proposal is that it seems to have grabbed the attention and support of the majority, regardless of political party affiliation. According to CNN polls, 85 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of independents and 51 percent of Republicans agree with Obama’s plan, and believe that this idea has the capacity to prevent further mass shootings, even if just one. These poll numbers indicate that the decision for stronger regulations has become more than just a political stance or a politician fishing for more votes in a campaign.
Guns do not have the ability to kill, rather that is the action of an individual. But it is clear that several of the recent mass shooters should have never been able to purchase a weapon.
