On the day the president is sworn in for a second term, what was already a heated topic has now turned into a fireball of controversy: gun control.
From CBS: The president’s plan includes universal background checks for gun sales; the reinstatement and strengthening of the assault weapons ban; capping ammunition magazines to a 10-round limit; banning armor-piercing ammunition; providing schools with resource officers and school counselors; putting more police officers on the streets; creating serious punishments for gun trafficking, and ensuring that health insurance plans cover mental health benefits.
WDBJ-7's Bryce Williams stopped by a gun show in Salem today... the first one after the president announced plans for stricter gun laws.
Many people at the gun show declined to appear in an on-camera interview. One man said he was scared the government may try to “target him”.
However, we talked with one outspoken gun owner who let his opinions be known -- saying the government is out of control. We also spoke with a concerned mother who wants more gun laws on the books.
The gun show in Salem is a place for one stop shopping for people like Kenneth Talbott.
He's up in arms following the president's announcement about proposed new gun laws.
“The problem is nothing that has been proposed in Washington would have prevented the tragedy at Sandy Hook. They're going after the gun an inanimate object. The gun is not the cause of the violence. People are the cause-- the breakdown in our society,” said Talbott.
Our cameras weren't allowed inside to shoot today's gun show. The organizer was said to be out of town as well as his son.
We spoke with Luisa Linkous, a concerned mom. “We, as a society, need to value life and not just the children...Not just because of the horrible tragedy in Connecticut...but even the Aurora shootings--the shootings before with Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford,” said Linkous.
One of the main concerns of many,-including the president--assault weapons."I think that reform is definitely needed as you can look back through history you see the escalation of the violence, you see the escalation of the change in this world,” Linkous continued.
Kenneth Talbott countered: “The 2nd amendment didn't discriminate. I think you need whatever you wish to have to target shoot, to shoot competitively, to hunt and so what concern should it be what a law abiding citizen has? All the laws that they're trying to pass are aimed at law abiding citizens,” Talbott added.
Back to Luisa Linkous- “If we hold the value of life than any tragedy that involves any human being needs to be a point of contention for conversation,” she said.
And one final word from Talbott- “The big concern is the fact that everything that is being proposed in Washington now...none of it will do any good as far as reducing the violence.”
Two sides fired up with no compromise in sight
Pro-gun activists protested across the nation this weekend. They say their right to own firearms is under attack by President Obama. Today top Democrats said they're confident Congress will pass anti-gun legislation.
