Obama can’t remain silent: calls for gun control, ‘common sense gun safety laws’ after his executive orders didn’t work
Former President Barack Obama couldn’t remain silent in the aftermath of the Florida school shooting, offering up his political insight: we need more gun control.
His tweets came just moments after President Trump addressed the nation in the wake of the tragic shooting which left 17 dead: “[U]ntil we can honestly say that we’re doing enough to keep them safe from harm, including long overdue, common-sense gun safety laws that most Americans want, then we have to change.”
“We are grieving with Parkland. But we are not powerless. Caring for our kids is our first job. And until we can honestly say that we’re doing enough to keep them safe from harm, including long overdue, common-sense gun safety laws that most Americans want, then we have to change.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted earlier Thursday that Congress has a “moral obligation to take action and spare more families from this violence.”
Trump’s speech focused on Americans coming together to find a solution to school shootings, especially on mental health issues. He did not specifically address gun control laws.
“It is not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference,” he said. “We must actually make that difference.”
On Thursday morning, Trump pointed to the missed signals of mental instability and violence demonstrated by the shooter.
“So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!”
After the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Obama struggled to get Congress to pass gun legislation, ultimately issuing a series of executive orders aimed at curbing gun violence.
None of those efforts have worked.
Obama passes 23 executive orders on gun control
List of Obama’s 23 gun control executive orders
Joe Biden suggests using a shotgun over an AR-15
Image/Pete Souza-White House
