Bullets fire as a cold hollow sound echoes, making everyone who hears it shiver. This is a testimony that all too many people share as survivors of mass shootings. The blame for these senseless acts of violence is a deadly mixture of mental illness, anger and the ability to obtain a gun. On Jan. 5, President Barack Obama held a press conference to discuss gun control issues to try to put an end to this horrific trend.

In the introduction of his final State of the Union Address, Obama mentioned the major issues America is currently facing, one of which being shootings.

“Protecting our kids from gun violence…” Obama said while listing critical points that America needs to consider in the future.

Obama, nearing the end of his Presidency, has begun to push the issue of Gun Control. The country is almost perfectly divided on the issue, with 51 percent of Americans opposing stricter gun laws. Obama has become the scapegoat for the nation’s seemingly endless problems, and so he has no fear of criticism for his decision. In his short 30 minute press conference, Obama was able to put the main focus on his vow to make it harder for people to obtain and sell guns in order to stop another mass shooting.

In order to execute this necessary change, he introduced his plan of action starting with having more intensive background checks on all gun buyers and making sure everyone who sells guns has the proper certification. He also wants to further restrict all laws already existing on gun control. He is pushing on this issue with urgency and is making sure the divided Congress is on board. He mentioned how he felt that Congress and the National Rifle Association (NRA) should have done something sooner in preventing these issues that are now, and have been, occurring all too frequently.

Within his plan, he wants to make sure that every gun seller contacts the ATF if their guns go missing or get stolen. Also, he proposed plans of hiring hundreds of more examiners to help the FBI do increased background checks on all people buying guns.

In his tense press conference on Tues., he was originally rigid and professional while discussing the most recent mass shootings. Finally, the emotional side of him was relinquished when he shed a tear discussing the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults. During this conference, Mark Barden, the father of a first grader who died in the Sandy Hook shooting introduced Obama. Obama also stood next to 11 people who have been affected by gun violence.

All mass shootings are carried out by mentally sick and unstable people. Along with having stricter gun laws, Obama wants to give people the chance to get aid before they result in organizing a mass shooting. He wants people to find the help they need sooner.

Even though this plan has been made public, hoping for support, House Speaker Paul Ryan with other Republicans brought up the challenge of the 2nd Amendment. This amendment states that “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”

Though Obama’s plan in no way infringes on that right, Ryan thinks that it could raise an issue within the court system. Those who oppose Obama’s plan must simply misunderstand what he is trying to accomplish. He is trying to make it so that random and senseless shootings are not commonplace in the world that we live in. Our current laws, as they stand, make it far too easy for guns to get into the wrong hands. Obama is doing his best to save lives, which is something everyone can stand behind, Republican or Democrat.