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                    Clinton to Unveil Gun Control Proposals

   by Chris Hannas

   Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is due to unveil
   new proposals Monday to strengthen gun control in the United States.

   The issue is one where there is some difference among Clinton and her
   rivals trying to become the party's nominee in the 2016 election, but
   also a fundamental ideological divide between them and their
   counterparts from the Republican party.

   Clinton aides say she will use two town hall events in the northeastern
   state of New Hampshire to discuss plans to use executive action if
   Congress fails to address the issue.

   The former senator and secretary of state wants to tighten the laws
   that require gun buyers to undergo background checks before completing
   their purchase, including requiring them at gun shows and barring sales
   in cases where the checks are incomplete.

   Clinton is also expected to propose repealing a 2005 law that shields
   licensed gun makers and sellers from civil lawsuits "resulting from the
   criminal or unlawful misuse" of a firearm or ammunition.

   "We can't wait any longer to act on gun violence prevention," Clinton
   posted Sunday on Twitter.

   Her announcement will come less than a week after a 26-year-old gunman
   killed nine people and wounded nine others in the latest mass shooting
   at a U.S. school.  The attack drew a strong response from President
   Barack Obama, who told the American people to push lawmakers to enact
   tougher gun control legislation.

   "We've become numb to this," he said.

   Senator Bernie Sanders, another candidate running to replace Obama
   after his second term ends, said after the shootings that the country
   needs "sensible gun control legislation" along with better mental
   health help.  He also supports ending the so-called gun show loophole
   as well as banning the sale of automatic weapons.

   Republicans: laws will not stop criminals

   But for Republican candidates, the response to mass shootings is not to
   enact more laws they say would not stop the next shooter from obtaining
   a gun.

   Billionaire Donald Trump, who has led the Republican field for several
   months, told NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday he could argue that if more
   people were armed at the community college where Thursday's attack took
   place, then fewer people would have died.

   "If you had more guns, you'd have more protection because the right
   people would have the guns," he said.  Trump added that mentally ill
   people will "come through the cracks" and "do things that people will
   not even believe are possible."

   Republicans generally oppose legislation that restricts the ability of
   Americans to purchase and own guns, basing their position on the Second
   Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which cites "the right of the people
   to keep and bear arms."  Much political debate and many legal cases
   have explored the precise meaning and its application more than 200
   years after the Constitution was ratified.

   The Supreme Court last tackled the issue in a major 2008 ruling that
   backed the right to possess a firearm and use it "for traditionally
   lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home."

   Senator Marco Rubio said Friday that adding more restrictions on gun
   ownership would prevent people from defending themselves.

   "Criminals don't follow gun laws," he said.  "Only law-abiding people
   follow gun laws, and there is just no evidence that these gun laws
   would prevent these shootings."

   Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, running second behind Trump in polls, also
   said Friday that gun control only places limits on those who follow the
   law.  "It doesn't work for crazies," he said.

   Meanwhile, Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina says the government
   should focus on enforcing laws that are already in place before jumping
   to add new ones.

   Going even further

   Clinton's proposals are unlikely to gain any support from the
   Republican field, but even her plans lag behind another Democrat,
   former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who has an extensive list of
   gun reforms he would like to enact.

   O'Malley agrees on tightening background checks, and wants to require a
   license, fingerprinting and safety training for anyone who buys a gun.
   He also wants a federal firearms registry, increased inspections of gun
   dealers, and to use the government's role as a major gun buyer to push
   manufacturers to make all guns more traceable.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/clinton-to-unveil-gun-control-proposals/2991686.html