WATCH VIDEO
Columbine. Blacksburg. Newtown. Aurora.
Tucson. Oak Creek. Charleston. San Bernardino.
Too many communities across the country are
still suffering from the heartbreaking consequences of a gun in the wrong
hands. In the past decade, more than 100,000 people have died as a result of
gun violence. Many of these crimes were committed by people who never should
have been able to purchase a gun in the first place.
Sympathy is not enough to stop gun violence.
Congress has repeatedly failed to take action, blocking commonsense reforms
supported by the vast majority of the American people – including gun owners
themselves.
The President has a responsibility to do
everything in his power to reduce gun violence. This week, he will.
Gun Violence in
America: By the Numbers
MORE THAN 4 MILLION
Number of American victims
of assaults, robberies, and other crimes involving a gun in the last decade MORE THAN 30,000
Number of gun deaths in
America each year MORE
THAN 20,000
Number of children under
18 killed by firearms over the last decade MORE THAN 20,000
Number of Americans who
commit suicide with a firearm each year 466
Number of law enforcement
officers shot and killed by felons over the last decade 3
Number
of days after which a gun dealer can sell a gun to an individual if a
background check is not yet complete
The President's Actions to Reduce Gun Violence
So President Obama is
taking executive action to reduce gun violence. Here’s what his actions are
designed to do:
Keep guns out of the
wrong hands through background checks
·
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is
making clear that it doesn’t matter where you conduct your business—from a
store, at gun shows, or over the Internet: If you’re in the business of selling
firearms, you must get a license and conduct background checks.
·
ATF is finalizing a rule to require background checks for people
trying to buy some of the most dangerous weapons and other items through a
trust, corporation, or other legal entity.
·
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch has sent a letter to States
highlighting the importance of receiving complete criminal history records and
criminal dispositions, information on persons disqualified because of a mental
illness, and qualifying crimes of domestic violence.
·
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is overhauling the
background check system to make it more effective and efficient. The envisioned
improvements include processing background checks 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, and improving notification of local authorities when certain prohibited
persons unlawfully attempt to buy a gun. The FBI will hire more than 230
additional examiners and other staff to help process these background checks.
Make our communities
safer from gun violence
·
The Attorney General convened a call with U.S. Attorneys around
the country to direct federal prosecutors to continue to focus on smart and
effective enforcement of our gun laws.
·
The President’s FY2017 budget will include funding for 200 new
ATF agents and investigators to help enforce our gun laws.
·
ATF has established an Internet Investigation Center to track
illegal online firearms trafficking and is dedicating $4 million and
additional personnel to enhance the National Integrated Ballistics Information
Network.
·
ATF is finalizing a rule to ensure that dealers who ship
firearms notify law enforcement if their guns are lost or stolen in transit.
·
The Attorney General issued a memo encouraging every U.S.
Attorney’s Office to renew domestic violence outreach efforts.
Increase mental health
treatment and reporting to the background check system
·
The Administration is proposing a new $500 million investment to
increase access to mental health care.
·
The Social Security Administration has indicated that it will
begin the rulemaking process to include information in the background check
system about beneficiaries who are prohibited from possessing a firearm for
mental health reasons.
·
The Department of Health and Human Services is finalizing a rule
to remove unnecessary legal barriers preventing States from reporting relevant
information about people prohibited from possessing a gun for specific mental
health reasons.
Shape the future of
gun safety technology
·
The President has directed the Departments of Defense, Justice,
and Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology
·
The President has also directed the departments to review the
availability of smart gun technology on a regular basis, and to explore
potential ways to further its use and development to more broadly improve gun
safety.
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