| US gun debate: Obama unveils gun control proposals Jan 16th 2013, 19:35 Quote:
President Barack Obama has unveiled a raft of sweeping gun control proposals, setting the stage for a showdown with firearms rights advocates.
Mr Obama called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and wider background checks on gun buyers.
The Democratic president also signed 23 executive actions, which do not require congressional approval.
A month after last month's school massacre in Connecticut, he said gun-control reforms could wait no longer.
He unveiled the proposals at the White House on Wednesday, flanked by children who wrote him letters after December's Newtown shooting, which left 20 children and six teachers dead.
Mr Obama said: "If there's even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there's even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try."
'Gin up fear'
He urged Congress:
- to reintroduce an expired ban on "military-style" assault weapons, such as those used in several recent mass shootings
- limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds
- introduce background checks on all gun sales; currently private sales and some sales at gun shows, constituting about 40% of the national total, are exempt
- pass a ban on possession and sale of armour-piercing bullets
- introduce harsher penalties for gun-traffickers, especially unlicensed dealers who buy arms for criminals
- finally approve the appointment of the head of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Cont.
| http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21049942 From what I've read here on SC, I think point 3 is going to be the most problematic. |  |
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