We are working hard on adopting enforcement strategies like Boston's that combine vigorous prosecution with measures to strengthen communities and police-community relations. Legislation Smarter, collaborative law enforcement has highlighted the fact that law enforcement can make communities s ubstantially safer. But current law does not allow us to do all that we could do to keep young people and others who should not have them from getting guns. Many guns are sold at gun shows and elsewhere where there are no background checks and no tracing records. This means that under-age buyers and felons can buy guns easily, and the gun sellers are not held accountable.
Young people can easily take guns from homes where parents keep a loaded and unlocked handgun.
To begin addressing these problems, the President last spring proposed legislation to strengthen the gun laws. The legislation as adopted in Senate and House bills would close a number of loopholes and toughen penalties on illegal traffickers. It would also require that guns be sold with safety locks so that owners at least are presented with the option of securing them. And it would limit the importation of ammunition feeding devices used in semiautomatic assault weapons that contain more than 10 rounds. This gun legislation, which awaits action in Congress, will help reduce gun violence.