Video: Local Reaction To Obama’s Gun Law Plan

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Once again, the gun-debate takes center stage.

Tuesday, President Obama made a passionate call for stricter gun laws to limit gun violence.

As part of Obama’s plan, The White House will introduce a new requirement that would expand background checks for buyers.

That also includes all individuals “in the business of selling firearms” register as licensed gun dealers.

A December CNN poll shows 48% of Americans favor stricter gun laws and 51% oppose.

Today, that divide stands.

“I think it’s a great idea. Definitely need some background checks on people and also it will hopefully save lives. I know they always say the gun does not kill people on its own but we try to at least keep people that do not deserve to get them,” said resident Albert Alan.
“I think it steps on your second amendment a lot and some of it may be good, as far as the mental health and all, I gotta go along with that. But I just feel like our rights are being taken away from us as we go,” said resident Scott Swindoll.

As part of the new actions taken by the federal government, all gun dealers will have to be licensed, conduct back ground checks and make the back ground check system more efficient.

Oktibbeha County Sheriff Steve Gladney is an avid-hunter and he says he doesn’t see tougher laws ending the gun violence problem.

“I hunt, I love guns, I go to gun shows, I buy guns. A majority of the crimes we deal with where firearms are involved, once we retrieve the firearm the firearm is stolen. So as far as gun control and filling out forms and; being able to do that, that’s not going to solve that problem at all,” said Sheriff Gladney.

Increased mental health care is also another part of the plan.

The government hopes by helping people get the proper mental care they need, it will help keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people.

But Sheriff Gladney says that can be hard to detect.

“Like any law, most of the time are for honest people. If I go in a gun shop and I’ve been in a mental institution somewhere and I check no on that box, then I don’t know how the store owner or gun shop owner is going to know that or not, so,” said Sheriff Gladney.

Sheriff Gladney adds that tougher gun laws aren’t the ‘fix-all’ for the gun violence problem today and he says nearly anybody can get a gun if they want to.

“If somebody intends on doing something bad or that type thing, then they are going to find a way to get their hands on a gun, guns are bad in bad peoples hands,” added Sheriff Gladney.

According to CNN, Just 35% approve of Obama’s handling of gun policy.