This is What's Trending Today...
U.S. President Barack Obama became tearful Tuesday as he remembered the children who died in a mass shooting three years ago in Newtown, Connecticut.
The president was announcing new steps he plans to take to prevent gun violence in America. Family members of shooting victims surrounded the president during his announcement at the White House.
Obama’s executive order will require more gun sellers to get licenses and more gun buyers to undergo background checks. The measures will also increase the enforcement of existing gun laws, increase mental health treatment and expand research into gun safety technology.
After Obama’s announcement, the hashtag #StopGunViolence trended worldwide on Twitter. Many supported Obama’s efforts, but some criticized the president’s actions.
Twitter user @justafarmer4 wrote: “I have been a gun owner for decades and fully support @POTUS in his thoughtful, reasonable and responsible efforts to #StopGunViolence.”
I have been a gunowner for decades and fully support @POTUS in his thoughtful, reasonable and responsible efforts to #StopGunViolence
— justa farmer (@justafarmer4) January 5, 2016
The National Rifle Association responded to Obama’s announcement. The NRA is the biggest gun-rights activist group in the U.S. It tweeted: President Obama’s executive orders will do nothing to improve public safety.
President Obama’s executive orders will do nothing to improve public safety. #2A #fact
— NRA (@NRA) January 5, 2016
Twitter user @WickedWitch89 said, “My right to not have my siblings murdered in a school shooting outweighs your right to own an assault rifle #StopGunViolence"
My right to not have my siblings murdered in a school shooting outweighs your right to own an assault rifle #StopGunViolence
— Joey C (@WickedWitch89) January 5, 2016
Among those in the audience at the White House Tuesday was American comedian Amy Schumer. The entertainer started advocating for stricter gun controls in America after three people were shot and killed at a movie theater in Louisiana during a screening of her film Trainwreck.
On Tuesday, Schumer tweeted, “Let’s Go. We can #StopGunViolence.”
Let's go. We can #StopGunViolence https://t.co/aZGiAuW2Vr
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) January 5, 2016
And that’s What’s Trending Today.
I'm Ashley Thompson.
Words in This Story
victim - n. a person who has been attacked, injured, robbed, or killed by someone else
background check - n. the process of looking up information about a person's past
outweigh - v. importance, value, or weight.
advocate - v. to support or argue for a cause or policy
