President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced a sweeping package of legislative recommendations, including a new assault weapons ban, to “help keep guns out of the wrong hands, make our schools safer, and increase access to mental health services.”
Official White House photo
The proposals came in the wake of the nationwide mourning of the 20 killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., and other gun-related tragedies in Aurora, Colo., Tucson, Ariz., and at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Politicians and pundits say Obama should have broad support for universal background checks, but the outlawing of certain types of weapons will be a much harder sell. Two years ago, Suzi Hileman was shot three times at the same political event in Tucson, Ariz., that almost took the life of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Hileman, also known by her blogonym, Ashleigh Burroughs, talked to genConnect.com about how that shooting changed her life forever:
Watch: Can More Love Help Prevent Another Newtown Shooting?
Obama’s sweeping new gun control recommendations include the following:
1.) Required background checks for all gun sales
2.) Strengthen the background check system for gun sales
3.) Pass a new, stronger ban on assault weapons
4.) Limit ammunition magazines to 1o rounds
5.) Finish the job of getting armor-piercing bullets off the streets
6.) Give law enforcement additional tools to prevent and prosecute gun crime
7.) End the freeze on gun violence research
8.) Make our schools safer with new resource officers and counselors, better emergency response plans, and more nurturing school climates
9.) Ensure quality coverage of mental health treatment, particularly for young people
To read the full plan, visit WhiteHouse.gov.
Watch: Gabby Giffords Fights Gun Lobby (VIDEO)
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