Obama In Tears for Sandy Hook Victims as He Announces New Gun Control Orders

President Obama broke down in tears on Tuesday as he publicly unveiled new executive orders on gun control that bypass Congress and seek to expand background checks on firearms purchases and close the so-called gun-show loophole.

Obama wiped tears from his face as he spoke about the children who were killed in the Sandy Hook shooting saying “Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad”. Under the new rules, it is stated that gun dealers would be required to obtain a federal seller's license and do background checks on all buyers. The move seeks to crack down in particular on small retailers who sell firearms at gun shows and online, the majority of whom have heretofore been exempt from keeping formal sales records.  Obama told the crowd gathered in the East Room of the White House Tuesday morning. That “The constant excuses for inaction no longer do, no longer suffice, Instead of thinking of how to solve the problem, this has become one of our most polarized, partisan debates. We do need to feel a sense of urgency about it. In Dr. King's words, we need to feel the fierce urgency of now”

The president first announced on Monday that he would be rolling out the executive actions on gun control over the next few days. After meeting Attorney General Loretta Lynch, FBI Director James Comey and other top officials in the Oval Office Monday afternoon, Obama said he was confident the measures “are well within my legal authority and the executive branch, but they're also ones that the overwhelming majority of the American people, including gun owners, support and believe”.

Among the crowd were Vice President Joe Biden, former congresswoman and gun control advocate Gabby Giffords, comedian Amy Schumer, and family members of mass shooting victims.  Nicole Hockley and Mark Barden, parents who each lost children in the Dec. 14, 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, were on hand to show their support for the measures.