President Obama said Friday in his weekly radio address that he will meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Monday to discuss executive actions he can take to impose stricter gun control.
Obama started his address by wishing the country a happy new year and reflecting on his biggest achievements in his first seven years as president, including decreasing unemployment rates, Obamacare and clean energy.
He quickly moved on to his New Year's resolution - using his executive authority to fix the nation's "epidemic of gun violence."
"Because I get too many letters from parents, and teachers and kids, to sit around and do nothing," Obama said. "I get letters from responsible gun owners who grieve with us every time these tragedies happen; who share my belief that the Second Amendment guarantees a right to bear arms; and who share my belief we can protect that right while keeping an irresponsible, dangerous few from inflicting harm on a massive scale."
The announcement confirms reports published Thursday claiming that Obama would issue long-expected executive action in the coming days.
The White House has not specified what the president plans to do, but those close to the discussions told Politico that more small-scale gun sellers will be forced to obtain their Federal Firearms License, requiring them to conduct background checks on every gun sale. Stricter rules are also expected to be placed on reporting lost or stolen firearms.
Obama has resorted to using executive authority after a gridlocked Congress failed to tighten background checks after the 2012 shooting in Newton, Conn., that left 20 children and six adults dead, according to The Hill.
"The gun lobby is so loud and well-organized in its defense of effortlessly available guns for anyone," Obama said. "The rest of us are going to have to be just as passionate and well- organized in our defense of our kids. That's the work of citizenship - to stand up and fight for the change that we seek. I hope you'll join me in making America safer for all of our children."
