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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

U.S. President Obama announced a series of "common-sense executive actions" [npr.org] relating to guns on Tuesday. During his speech at the East Room of the White House, he could be seen with tears in his eyes [npr.org] as he recalled victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

The President's plans include requiring all gun sellers to be licensed and perform background checks, including online and gun show sellers. He also plans to remove barriers keeping states from reporting and sharing information about those barred from keeping guns, while spending an additional $500 million to improve access to mental health care. Obama will push for research into "smart guns" [npr.org], and add 200 new agents to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

In a public opinion poll from last August, 85 percent of Americans said they're in favor of expanding background checks, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Those in support included 88 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of Republicans.

The National Rifle Association has criticized Obama's plan, calling it "a political stunt." In 2013, the group worked to block enhanced gun control legislation that was introduced in the aftermath of the elementary school shootings in Newtown, Conn.

Legal challenges to aspects of the executive orders [reuters.com] are anticipated:

The crucial question in any direct legal challenge will be whether the ATF guidance creates new obligations, or merely clarifies existing law. The more the Obama administration acts as though the guidance has created a new legal requirement, the more legal trouble it might invite, said Lisa Heinzerling, administrative law professor at Georgetown University.

Gunmakers Smith & Wesson's and Sturm, Ruger & Co.'s saw massive increases in their stock prices [theintercept.com] following the news.

Previously: President Obama: The Great "Salesman" For the U.S. Firearms Industry [soylentnews.org]

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