A sometimes defiant, sometimes scolding, and, at times, tearful President Barack Obama, flanked by survivors of gun violence, addressed the nation in a televised event Tuesday morning, January 5, to announce executive actions he planned to take to reduce gun violence in America.

In introductory remarks, Mark Barden of Sandy Hook, whose 6-year-old son Daniel was killed at Sandy Hook School, December 14, 2012, recalled a speech by the President in 2013, promising not to give up on pursuing common sense gun laws.

Feelings of despair were replaced with feelings of hope, Mr Barden said, “And I remember thinking, who is going to help him with this? It is a tall order.”

Mr Barden, who is an advocacy director with Sandy Hook Promise in Newtown, urged those present, “We need your help. We need everybody engaged in this. Today, we celebrate another example of how the President and Vice President continue to keep that promise.”

Before itemizing the actions he would take, President Obama recalled the major shootings that have taken place since the incident that nearly killed then US Representative Gabby Giffords of Arizona five years ago.

“Too many,” declared the President of those shootings, as are the 30,000 lives “cut short by guns each year.”

Pointing out that the United States is the only advanced country that sees this frequency of mass violence, he noted that the polarization of political parties was not conducive to solving the problem of gun violence.

“My goal is to bring good people on both sides of the issue together,” he said, adding that he feels a “sense of urgency … because people are dying.” Constant excuses for inaction no longer suffice, said President Obama, with common sense steps needing to be taken to save lives.

“I believe we can find ways to reduce gun violence consistent with the Second Amendment,” said the President, noting the support in 2013 of 90 percent of the American people, including gun owners, to expand existing background checks. That law failed, he said, because 90 percent of the Republicans in Congress voted against it. The President also pointed out that there are always constraints on freedom in order to protect innocent people.

It is not possible to stop every act of violence, he conceded, but improved laws could “maybe stop one act of violence… We do not have to accept this carnage,” he stated. “Congress still needs to act. Folks in this room will not rest until Congress does,” President Obama said.

But until Congress “is in line with Americans,” the President said there are executive actions he can take to tighten rules and systems that are now in place.

“Today,” he said, “we take it a step further.”

Finding a balance of Second Amendment rights and “other rights we care about as much” are important. The 20 children killed on 12/14 were among those who had deserved the inalienable rights to liberty and life, the President said, a moment in his speech that briefly brought the nation’s leader to tears.

“Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad,” he said, “and it happens every day in the streets of Chicago.”

Demand something better, he urged. Congress blocks laws in order to win elections.

“Make it harder for them to win… They’ll change laws,” he said, encouraging voters on the side of common sense gun laws to be as passionate as gun lobbyists.

In closing, President Obama said, “If we love our kids… our country… we can find the courage to vote… Cut through all the noise, to do what a sensible country should do.”

The White House released a memorandum from President Barack Obama for the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, Monday, January 4, promoting smart gun technology. This was one of several initiatives to decrease gun violence in the United States addressed by the President Tuesday morning.

A 2013 report by the Department of Justice showed that technological advancements in gun safety could reduce accidental deaths “and the use of stolen guns in criminal activities,” the memorandum states.

The President’s memorandum addresses the millions of dollars invested in research to improve gun safety, and the importance of this research, adding, “It is possible to do so in a way that makes the public safer and is consistent with the Second Amendment. The Federal Government has a unique opportunity to do so, as it is the single largest purchaser of firearms in the country.”

The President has directed the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security “to the extent practicable and permitted by law, [to] conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology that would reduce the frequency of accidental discharge or unauthorized use of firearms, and improve the tracing of lost or stolen guns.” He has also directed these departments “to the extent permitted by law, [to] regularly review the availability of the technology” and “explore potential ways to further its use and development to more broadly improve gun safety.”

According to an additional White House press release of January 4, the executive actions taken by President Obama are hoped to reduce the incidents of gun violence that take place in this country, many committed by “people who never should have been able to purchase a gun in the first place.”

“Some of the gaps in our country’s gun laws can only be fixed through legislation, which is why the President continues to call on Congress to pass the kind of common sense gun safety reforms supported by a majority of the American people.”

With no response from Congress, however, the President has determined to used executive action to keep guns out of the wrong hands; make communities safer from gun violence; increase mental health treatment and reporting to the background check system; and shape the future of gun technology.

These actions will be accomplished by actions that include all in the business of selling firearms to be licensed and conduct background checks, overhauling the FBI background check system, effective enforcement of gun laws, tracking of illegal online firearms trafficking, increased domestic violence outreach and access to mental health care, removing legal barriers to states’ reporting of people prohibited from gun possession for mental health reasons, as well as the research into gun safety technology.

The executive actions will clarify that firearms businesses utilizing the Internet or other technologies, as well as brick-and-mortar stores, must be licensed. Buyers will no longer be able to avoid background checks by purchasing guns through trusts or corporations, and states are to provide records to the background check system.

The FBI will also modernize the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to process background checks 24/7.

The President’s budget will include funding for 200 new ATF agents and investigators to enforce gun laws.