On Monday, President Barack Obama announced that he will be revealing a proposal of new gun control policies and is willing to take executive actions if necessary. Currently, the President is considering up to 19 different executive orders that he could take to effect stricter gun control without having to wait for approval from Congress. “I’m confident there are some steps that we can take that don’t require legislation and that are within my authority as president,” Obama said in his press conference. “And where you get a step that has the opportunity to reduce the possibility of gun violence, then I want to go ahead and take it.”
In addition to action at the federal level, the state Senate of New Yorkapproved the first piece of legislation regulate guns since the Sandy Hook shooting. The bill, which would be the strictest in the nation, expands the definition of what is considered a banned assault weapon, increases penalties for criminal gun possession, and creates a database of submitted gun permits. N.Y. Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters that the New York Senate “made a bold statement, coming together in a bipartisan, collaborative manner to meet the challenges that face our state and our nation, as we have seen far too many senseless acts of gun violence.”
Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association (NRA) launched a new smartphone and tablet app that includes a game simulating shooting practice approved for children as young as four. “NRA: Practice Range” includes access to the NRA new, educational materials, and online resources along with the shooting practice game which features nine firearms, targets in the shape of coffins, and some guns that be upgraded for $0.99.
