Progress Since the Newtown Massacre Shift in Public Opinion and Strong Public Support for Improved Gun Violence Prevention Laws In a January 2013 Washington Post-ABC News poll, over half of respondents (52 percent) said they were more likely to support “some forms of gun control” as a result of the Newtown shootings. Polls tracking public opinion before and after the Newtown tragedy found an increase in support for stricter gun safety laws after December 14, 2012. At a time when Americans rarely agree on anything, an astounding 8 in 10 Americans support expanding background checks to cover private sales, including on the internet and at gun shows.1 This includes almost three-quarters of those in National Rifle Association (NRA) member households (74 percent)2 and more than four out of five gun owners (79 percent of Republican and 90 percent of Democratic gun owners).3 A majority of Americans (56 percent) also support banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.4 The American people want change.
President Obama Launched Plan to Reduce Gun Violence in America The afternoon of the Newtown shooting, President Obama addressed the nation and promised to take meaningful action to protect children and communities from gun violence. Within a week, Vice President Joe Biden was appointed to lead an inter-agency gun taskforce that worked with outside organizations and experts, victims of gun violence, gun advocates and government officials to develop policy recommendations to reduce gun violence. On January 16, 2013, President Obama released the Administration’s plan to reduce gun violence through a list of executive orders and a call for legislative action based on the policy recommendations put forth by the Biden taskforce.5 A number of the executive initiatives have been implemented. The President’s plan focused on four common sense actions to address gun violence: n
Closing Background Check Loopholes to Keep Guns Out of Dangerous Hands In an effort to keep guns from those who would commit acts of violence, the Administration proposed requiring background checks for all gun sales. The plan also strengthened the National Instant Criminal Background Check System by removing barriers to and creating incentives for the sharing of relevant state and federal data.
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Banning Military-Style Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines, and Taking Other Common Sense Steps to Reduce Gun Violence The President called for reinstating and strengthening the 1994 federal assault weapons ban banning ammunitions magazines holding more than 10 rounds and armor-piercing bullets. The President also called for increasing punishments for gun trafficking and improving law enforcement’s capacity and authority to enforce gun laws and directed federal agencies to resume gun violence prevention research.
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Making Schools Safer The President called for new and expanded resources and incentives for schools to invest in school safety, through personnel including school resource officers, school psychologists, social workers and counselors, and through school safety equipment, updated public safety plans and training “crisis intervention teams” to respond to students in crisis. Protect Children, Not Guns 2013
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