President Obama insisted Monday that the gun control measures he’s expected to announce Tuesday are within his legal authority and will be consistent with the Second Amendment.
“The good news is, is that these are not only recommendations that are well within my legal authority and the Executive Branch, but that are also ones that the overwhelming majority of the American people, including gun owners, support and believe in,” he told reporters during a meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
“I’m also confident that the recommendations that are being made by my team here are ones that are entirely consistent with the Second Amendment, and people’s lawful right to bear arms,” he said.
Officials said Monday that Obama would announce his plan just before noon from the East Room of the White House.
Obama said he asked his administration to come up with new steps the government could take without Congress to curb gun violence. His recommendations are expected to focus on expanded background checks for people who buy guns.
But Obama said it’s best for Congress to act.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest previewed Obama’s remarks earlier Monday, saying that whatever action the president takes has been thoroughly vetted to avoid constitutional violations.
[T]here are common-sense steps that he can take, using his authority, that do not undermine the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans, but we have to do something in this country to address the consequences of Congress’ failure to act,” Earnest said.
“I would anticipate that the president will have an announcement quite soon where he will discuss some steps that his administration has concluded and that he has concluded are within his executive authority that would keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.”
