Attorney General Loretta Lynch ruled on Wednesday before the Congress that United States President Barack Obama's executive actions about limitations of gun usage are legal. She noted that the President took lawful steps in the implemented rules.
Lynch spoke before the Senate Appropriations Committee panel and called the moves of Obama as "wee-reasoned measures." The moves that are being questioned are about the announcement of the president two weeks ago regarding owning guns and other security measures such as boosting FBI personnel processing background checks and having them operate 24 hours as opposed to the current 17 hours.
These announcements came weeks after the December 2 mass shooting in San Bernardino that killed 14 and injured 21. It is said that Obama has exceeded his executive branch powers by doing so, Yahoo News reported.
Lynch said in a statement as per report of Chicago Tribune, "As the list of tragedies involving firearms has grown, so has the American people's belief that we must do more to stem the tide of gun violence, and this administration is committed to doing our part."
The other motions that Obama have proposed are adding 200 more agents to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; having federal research on gun safety technology; requiring dealers and buyers of guns to obtain federal licenses; and asking the Congress for $500 million to improve mental health programs, New York Daily News reported.
According to Lynch, the 2017 budget for Obama's office will be released in February and they will seek $80 million for the gun proposals and restrictions.
Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski seemed to approve Lynch's remarks as she said, "We do need to change our nation's culture of violence. We do need to stop guns from getting into the wrong hands."
It has been reported that over 30,000 die from firearm wounds annually. Two thirds of that number are suicides. Aside from the San Bernardino shooting, another reason for the call on gun law reformation is the Paris attacks and other mass shooting incidents in the U.S. last year.
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