US Tragedy: National debate re-ignites on gun control laws

Washington, Dec 18: After last week's shooting at a primary school in Connecticut, US, that killed 26 people, including 20 children and six adults, a national debate on gun control law has started.

An increasing number of US congressmen have called for a national dialogue about measures to curb gun violence. However, experts doubt that with powerful US gun lobby, the amendments to the gun laws seem a far cry.

As per the BBC reports, two US Democrats Mark Warner and Joe Manchin, who have "A" ratings from the National Rifle Association (NRA), now say action is needed after the massacre.

Even US President Barack Obama seems interested in bringing a change in the gun control laws.

Obama has deeply mourned and regretted the death of 20 children and six adults in a gun shooting tragedy in Connecticut on Sunday, Dec 16. "We can't tolerate this anymore," he said. "These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change," said Obama.

"I'll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens," he said, "in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. Because what choice do we have?" Obama said the nation is failing at what he called "our first task," which he said was to care for the children of the nation.

New York's Mayor Michael R Bloomberg demanded that Obama confront the prevalence of guns in the nation saying, "It's time for the president to stand up and lead."

"This should be his no. 1 agenda. He's president of the United States. And if he does nothing during his second term, something like 48,000 Americans will be killed with illegal guns" in the next year, said Bloomberg, an independent who endorsed Obama for re-election, on NBC.

OneIndia News