In light of the mass shooting last week at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, the country is once again embroiled in a heated debate over what to do about gun control. 2016 Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has announced that she is proposing taking executive action on the selling of firearms at gun shows, the laws for which differ from regular shops.
The laws regarding the purchase of firearms at gun shows and on the internet are much less strict than when purchasing in a store. Because these sellers are not technically considered to be “in the business” of selling firearms, buyers are not subject to background checks. Another currently existing loophole allows gun sales to take place before background checks are completed. This is actually what allowed the Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof to legally purchase a gun even though there were drug offenses on his record.
Clinton is calling not only for a close to these loopholes, but also for a new law that prevents anyone with a history of domestic violence from purchasing weapons. She’s also calling for the repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which prevents victims of gun violence from suing sellers and manufacturers.
Clinton has stated that she would use executive actions if Congress chose not to act on these “common sense” measures. President Obama had to utilize executive action in 2013 to ensure that gun purchases made by corporations and trusts would be subject to background checks.
It is not yet clear exactly how the Oregon shooter obtained his gun, but it is believed it was purchased legally by the shooter himself or by a family member. Though we cannot say for certain just how much these legislative changes would decrease gun violence, one thing is for sure: with the hundreds of mass shootings that occur in this country every year, we have GOT to start doing something differently.