President Obama has laid out his plans to take executive action in an attempt to curb gun violence in the United States. Part of his plan will result in mandatory background checks for individuals purchasing firearms online or at gun shows. The administration is also calling for the hiring of 200 new federal agents to enforce the nation’s gun laws and $500 million to increase access to mental healthcare. On Tuesday, Obama spoke at the White House surrounded by family members of people killed in shootings. It was one of the most emotional speeches of Obama’s presidency. He wiped back tears as he remembered the first graders killed by a gunman at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
President Barack Obama: “Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad. And by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day.”
We’ll have more on President Obama’s speech after headlines.