US President to meet with attorney general to curb US gun violence

President Barack Obama
said on Friday he would meet with U.S. Attorney
General Loretta Lynch on Monday to discuss ways
of reducing gun violence in the United States amid
reports he intends to take executive action on the
issue.
Obama, in his weekly recorded address, said he
has received "too many letters from parents, and
teachers, and kids, to sit around and do nothing."
He has repeatedly urged Congress to tighten gun
laws, with his calls growing louder following the
2012 massacre at an elementary school in
Newtown, Connecticut, and again this fall after
mass shootings in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and
San Bernardino, California.
"A few months ago, I directed my team at the White
House to look into any new actions I can take to
help reduce gun violence," Obama said in the
address. "And on Monday, I'll meet with our
attorney general, Loretta Lynch, to discuss our
options."
The Washington Post, citing several individuals
briefed on the matter, said Obama and Lynch would
"finalize a set of executive actions on guns that he
will unveil next week."
Frustrated with little action from Congress, Obama
has vowed to use "whatever power this office holds"
to put in place gun control measures through
executive action, which does not require
congressional approval.
"We know that we can't stop every act of violence,"
Obama said. "But what if we tried to stop even
one? What if Congress did something – anything –
to protect our kids from gun violence?"
The Post said Obama would use his executive
authority in several areas, including expanding new
background-check requirements for buyers who
purchase weapons from high-volume dealers.
"Change, as always, is going to take all of us," said
Obama, who is on vacation with his family in
Hawaii. "The gun lobby is loud and well organized
in its defense of effortlessly available guns for
anyone. The rest of us are going to have to be just
as passionate and well organized in our defense of
our kids."
On Thursday, White House spokesman Eric Schultz
said Obama was aware Congress was unlikely to
act on gun reform.
"That is why he has asked his team to scrub
existing legal authorities to see if there's any
additional action we can take administratively,"
Schultz said. "The president has made clear he's
not satisfied with where we are and expects that
work to be completed soon."

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