Obama admits US gun regulations are his 'biggest frustration'
US President Barack Obama says gun control has been the issue that left him most “frustrated” over the past six years of his presidency.
In an interview with the British broadcaster BBC on Thursday, Obama said although he has pushed for stricter gun control during his time in the White House, he has been unable to make any significant changes to the laws.
“For us not to be able to resolve that issue has been something that is distressing," said the US president.
He said the United States does not have "sufficient common-sense gun safety laws even in the face of repeated mass killings."
"If you look at the number of Americans killed since 9/11 by terrorism, it's less than 100. If you look at the number that have been killed by gun violence, it's in the tens of thousands,” he added.
Obama has been trying to expand background checks and impose new restrictions on guns following massive shootings like the one at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, last month.
However, gun production has more than doubled under the Obama administration, according to a new report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“The ATF report confirms what we already know, that Barack Obama deserves the 'Gun Salesman of the Decade' award,” said Erich Pratt, spokesman for the Gun Owners of America.
"People have been rushing to buy firearms because they’re afraid that Obama will take away their Second Amendment rights,” he added.
Obama, however, said despite experiencing prior roadblocks in congress, he will not stop pursuing gun control regulations during the final 18 months of his presidency.
Over 6,000 people have been killed and over 13,000 people have been injured by gun in the United States since January 1, 2015, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
About 4.5 million firearms are sold annually in the country at a cost of 2 to 3 billion dollars.
According to a new report, gun production in the United States has more than doubled under the Obama administration.
The report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives comes as Obama has tried to expand background checks and impose new restrictions on guns following massive shootings like the ones in Charleston, S.C. and in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.
Lindsey Graham threatens to sanction US allies backing ICC arrest warrants
Israeli war criminals 'not welcome', US city says after ICC ruling
US House passes bill targeting charities and pro-Palestine groups
Lindsey Graham threatens to sanction US allies backing ICC arrest warrants
VIDEO | Tens of thousands of Catalans protest to demand access to better housing
Israel launches air strikes on Syria-Lebanon border crossing
Russia: Comprehensive deal with Iran will include defense, security ties
VIDEO | Israeli embassy shooting in Jordan leaves gunman dead, 3 police injured
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
120 Palestinians perish as Israeli war machine keeps ravaging Gaza
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
