Gun control debate heats up after Orlando rampage
SEATTLE -- A renewed call came Tuesday from President Obama for stricter gun laws in the aftermath of the Orlando rampage over the weekend.
As he has after other tragedies, the president is urging Congress to act.
“Enough talking about being tough on terrorism,” Obama said after meeting with his national security team. “Reinstate the assault weapons ban, making it harder for terrorists to use these weapons to kill us.”
An assault weapons ban existed from 1994 until it expired in 2004. The call for a renewed law has been getting louder since Sunday's Orlando shooting, especially because one of the guns used fits that description.
Both major presidential candidates are jumping into the debate.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton argues that it’s time to limit gun sales.
“If the FBI is watching you for suspected terrorist links,” Clinton said on Monday, “you shouldn’t be able to just go buy a gun with no questions asked.”
But Donald Trump and other gun rights advocates are pushing back, arguing that new laws would impinge on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
“Hillary Clinton effectively wants to abolish the Second Amendment,” Trump said. “She wants to take your guns away.”