President Barack Obama to use executive powers over gun control
US President Barack Obama is use executive powers over gun crime in America after saying that congress had failed to act on the issue.
Obama said he had received too many letters from parents, teachers, and children, to do nothing.
"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," Obama said.
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He added: "We know that we can't stop every act of violence. But what if we tried to stop even one? What if Congress did something – anything – to protect our kids from gun violence?"
Obama said he would meet attorney general Loretta Lynch to discuss what actions he is able to take, but is likely to be met with strong opposition.
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The President said earlier in the year that the inability to get congress on side over gun control had been the biggest frustration of his time the White House, but the move is likely to infuriate many Republicans and activists.
Previous attempts to change gun legislation have been largely unsuccessful, with even a joint Democrat-Republican bill following the 2012 shooting of 20 children and six adults at a primary school in Connecticut failing to garner the 60 votes necessary change laws, including the ability to broaden background checks on people buying guns and banning assault weapons.