President Obama's Call For Action On Guns

Gun policy and politics now. We’re looking at the President’s new push and what’s possible, on this side of Newtown.

The slaughter of little children - in school, in the middle of the day – in Newtown, Connecticut shook this country.  Yesterday, the President offered his policy response.

A ban on new assault weapons.  Limits on high-capacity ammo clips.  Universal background checks on gun buyers.  And more.

Now come the politics.  Wary gun owners.  The NRA almost unhinged yesterday.  Congress, testing the wind.  And Americans who want change facing a tall requirement of engagement to make it happen.

This hour, On Point:  gun policy and politics, on the table after Newtown.
-Tom Ashbrook

Chuck Babington, congressional reporter for the Associated Press. (@cbabington)

Robert Spitzer, professor of political science at the State University of New York at Cortland. Author of "The Politics of Gun Control."

Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

Richard Feldman, president of the Independent Firearm Owners Association.

The New York Times "President Obama called upon Congress on Wednesday to toughen America’s gun laws to confront mass shootings and everyday gun violence, betting that public opinion has shifted enough to support the broadest push for gun control in a generation."

The Washington Post "President Obama announced a sweeping slate of new gun control proposals Wednesday designed to curb mass violence, including new restrictions on guns, efforts to enhance school safety, and improving treatment of mental health issues. Some items will be enacted via executive order while others will require action on Capitol Hill. Below, we take a closer look at the larger proposals that will require action from Congress and offer our best educated guess of how likely they are to pass, based on recent polling and what lawmakers have said."

USA Today The White House attacked the National Rifle Association on Wednesday for an ad that mentioned President Obama's daughters, calling it 'repugnant and cowardly.'"