President Obama Signs 23 Executive Orders on Gun Control
The President just announced his highly-anticipated proposals for new gun control legislation, including 23 executive orders designed to tackle the issue.
.The President just announced his highly-anticipated proposals for new gun control legislation, including 23 executive orders designed to tackle the issue. You can click here to read the full list of the proposals, and read our brief live blog below for some of his comments from the announcement ceremony. You can all read a full transcript of his remarks here.
Earlier updates:
12:15 p.m.: Obama's closing line is: "Let's do the right thing for this country that we love so much." Then he immediately sits down at a small desk to sign his executive orders. The event ends with hearty applause from the crowd.
12:12 p.m.: Obama: "We are responsible for each other."
12:12 p.m.: Obama: "Ask your member of Congress what's more important. Getting an A-grade from lobbyists, or making sure children are safe when they got to school."
12:11 p.m.: Obama quotes another letter from a young girl on the state: "I know that laws have to be passed by Congress, but I want you to try very hard."
12:09 p.m.: Obama: "The only we can change if we say, "This time will be different.'" More: He also says support must come from traditional gun owners and supporters. "It can't just be the usual suspects
12:07 p.m.: Obama calls on Congress to confirm Todd Jones, acting director of the ATF to the permanent position.
12:05 p.m.: No. 2: Restore the assault weapons ban, with a ban on high-capacity magazines. "Weapons designed for the theater of war, have no place in a movie theater.
12:05 p.m.: Obama starts to discuss his specific legislative proposals. No. 1: Background checks for all gun purchases. Says Americans overwhelmingly support this, including 70% of NRA members.
12:03 p.m.: Obama: The executive actions "are no substitute for Congressional action."
12:01 p.m.: As soon as the press conference started, the White House released a list of 23 executive actions and legislative actions he plans to take.
11:59 a.m.: Obama: "This is our first task as a society. Keeping children safe. This is how we will be judged."
11:57 a.m.: The President is speaking now. He's introducing the students who are joining him on state. They wrote letters to him about the Sandy Hook incident.
11:54 a.m.: 229 groups were represented in meetings with him on the gun control.
11:53 a.m.: Biden: "We have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to diminish the prospect that anything like this could happen again."
11:51 a.m.: The press conference actually started early with a statement from Vice President Joe Biden, who led the commission that developed the new proposals.
The President will be announcing his highly-anticipated proposals for new gun control legistlation at 11:55 a.m. today. Join us for live updates.