During a speech announcing his executive order imposing new gun control measures on Tuesday President Obama said he wants Congress to pass new gun control laws but would not wait for them to do so.
"Now, let me be clear, Congress still needs to act," he said. "The folks in this room will not rest until Congress does because once Congress gets on board with common sense gun safety measures we can reduce gun violence a whole lot more."
"But we also can't wait."
The president went on to say that Congress does not represent a majority of American's views on gun control and, therefore, he will act without them. "Until we have a Congress that's in line with the majority of Americans there are actions within my legal authority that we can take to help reduce gun violence and save more lives," he said. "Actions that protect our rights and our kids."
"Until we have a Congress that's in line with the majority of Americans there are actions within my legal authority that we can take to help reduce gun violence and save more lives," he said. "Actions that protect our rights and our kids."
The president's executive order provides guidance to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives on who must obtain a federal firearms license in order to legally sell firearms. The standard set by the President's order says that a person who sells even one firearm with an intention to make a profit or a number of other criteria may be required to obtain a license. The standard broadens the definition of who is a dealer and must obtain the ATF's approval.
The order also includes a provision instructing the Social Security administration to begin the process of barring potentially millions of recipients from legally purchasing firearms as well as a number of other initiatives.