President Barack Obama outlined 23 steps he would take to curb gun violence through legislation and executive actions Wednesday and the National Rifle Association along with state legislatures are responding.
The NRA released a statement saying that attacking firearms and ignoring children is not a solution to the crisis currently going on in the United States.
The NRA believes that by attacking guns, only honest, law-abiding gun owners will be affected and our children will remain vulnerable to the inevitability of more tragedy.
The NRA said it plans to continue to work with Congress on a bi-partisan basis to come up with real solutions to the problem.
Senator Jay Rockefeller released his own statement calling the presidents plan “a strong, comprehensive plan to protect our citizens from gun violence.”
Rockefeller believes the plan moves the nation towards increased access to mental health services as well as provide an opportunity to look more into the connections between violent content and children’s behavior.
Rockefeller also supports steps that build on these ideas, while making sure hunters’ and sportsmen’s rights are protected.
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito said she is disappointed by the plan.
“I am disappointed that President Obama issued an executive order today instead of showing willingness to work with Congress and State Leaders to address this serious issue,” said Capito.
Capito believes the “President has displayed a worrisome willingness to use the White House to advance ideological agendas.”
Washington D.C. Representative David B. McKinley believes the Presidents plan will not solve anything.
“Limiting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens will not change the behavior of those determined to use firearms to commit horrific crimes,” said Rep. McKinley. “The President chooses to ignore this while abusing executive power and avoiding the legislative process.”
McKinley said he and other House colleagues have written the President a letter saying they do not support any legislation that imposes on Second Amendment rights.
In his own statement, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said he appreciated the work that went into creating the Presidents recommendations, but he was “disappointed that the President did not recommend the creation of the national commission on mass violence that he proposed.”
Manchin urged politics to be put aside so that an honest and effective conversation could be conducted in solving this crisis in America.