illness. you know, nick, you have legislation like this which would have never passed under ronald reagan, george w. bush. regulations rolled back like this. you look at what george w. bush supported, ronald reagan, and other republicans, and it seems that on this issue, the party has gotten the party of ronald reagan has gotten so extreme, so out there, literally playing for maybe to 5%, the 10%? look, it s true. i think that the gop has absorbed the rhetoric and the ideas of the nra fully in this area. the background check in the nra s view, if you look at their lobbying is a sort of danger. it s a way to register people who have guns and take their guns away. they have always fought these efforts to reform and expand the background checks system, make it more consistent and effective.
to carry whatever weapon she chooses. she said tighter regulations won t stop criminals from getting guns. the president stopped to the proposal is akin to adding seatbelts to cars gradually increasing safety. you will be able to purchase a firearm. some criminals will get their hands on firearms even if there is a background check. somebody may lie on a form. somebody will intend to commit a crime, but don t have a record on the background checks system. there is a way for a responsible gun owner who i m assuming given your husband and your family is a much better marksman than i am, can have a firearm to protect yourself. but where it is much harder for somebody to fill up a car with
gun safety continues in the new york times with an op-ed that looks ahead to election season. he says, quote, i will not campaign for, vote for or support any candidate even in my own party who doesn t support common sense gun reform. the statement seems aimed at democrats running in tight races for congress who may want the president s support. for the latest, let s bring in jim acosta. reporter: president obama confronted critics on the actions of the gun control at the town hall last night. they worry about the executive actions expanding the background checks system could prevent law abiding citizens from buying firearms. the president said it will not interfere with those rights and went off on the nra. accusing the group of skipping the town hall so it could continue to mislead gun owners
the president will defend his executive action over gun violence. we get more from senior white house correspondent jim acosta. reporter: president obama will sit down with supporters and opponents of gun control tonight on the town hall on cnn. the nra has declined to participate. white house press secretary josh earnest says the president hopes to use the meeting to strengthen the background checks system. i m confident there will be discuss of the politics too. we see this is a very good example of how political dysfunction on capitol hill has serious consequences for the safety and security of communities and kids all across the country. reporter: the town hall meeting on cnn is part of president obama s big push on gun control in his final year of
immediately you see those limits that they re up against. they are presented as proposals or guidance or encouragements, by no means are these new laws. the biggest deal is background checks. the white house says if you are in the business of selling guns, two guns per year or 200,000, whether at gun shows or on the dark web, you need to register and all of your buyers need background checks. there will be harsh penalties if you don t do that. how will the government make you do that? the white house sent a letter to every state governor urging them to make sure more information goes into the background checks system. things like people disqualified for mental illness or convictions over domestic violence. to make sure the information goes in, but enforcement is a question. the white house now wants to beef up the background checks system with a lot more funding and more hiring.