Obama
says U.S. has to 'do something' about guns after Colorado shooting
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[November 30, 2015]
By Roberta Rampton
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Expressing what has
become regularly repeated frustration on the issue, President Barack
Obama said on Saturday the United States needs to "do something" to make
it harder for criminals to get guns after a shooting in Colorado killed
three people and injured nine.
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"We have to do something about the easy accessibility of weapons
of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them.
Period," Obama said in a statement. "Enough is enough."
In Friday's shooting, an assailant opened fire at a Planned
Parenthood clinic, a center that provides health services including
abortions, in Colorado Springs.
It was the latest in a long series of U.S. mass shootings during
Obama's seven years in office. He has called the December 2012
shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut,
his toughest day as president.
Obama said it was too soon to know the Colorado Springs shooter's
"so-called motive" but said the tragedy was more evidence pointing
to the need to reform firearms laws.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Nov/30/images/ads/current/napa_bch1-3108.png) "This is not normal," said Obama, who has become increasingly
forthright in urging gun control measures when he makes statements
after such events. "We can’t let it become normal."
Obama tried to tighten up gun laws after the Newtown shootings, but
met resistance in the U.S. Congress, including from some of his
fellow Democrats, and failed to push a measure through.
After another deadly shooting at an Oregon community college last
month, Obama said White House lawyers would pore through existing
laws to look for new ways he could use his executive powers to
enforce regulations.
One of those options would require more gun dealers to get a license
to sell guns, which would lead to more background checks on buyers.
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The White House had drafted a proposal on that issue in 2013, but
was concerned it could be challenged in court. Administration
officials are now hopeful they can find a way to advance the plan.
Obama has also pledged to elevate the issue of gun laws during his
remaining time in office, and has denounced lawmakers for bowing to
pressure from the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group.
On Saturday, he said Americans could not "offer up our thoughts and
prayers" for the families of the dead police officer and of the two
other victims of the shooting "with a truly clean conscience" unless
they also pushed for changes to make it harder to get guns.
"May God bless Officer Garrett Swasey and the Americans he tried to
save - and may he grant the rest of us the courage to do the same
thing," Obama said.
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(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Frances Kerry)
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