Missouri’s two U.S. senators are divided on President Barack Obama’s agenda for reducing gun violence.
Republican Senator Roy Blunt said Wednesday that Obama’s proposals “fundamentally fail” to address ways of preventing tragic events like the shooting the killed 26 people at a Connecticut school. He says the focus should be on treatment for the mentally ill.
Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill says she supports services for the mentally ill, as well as Obama’s proposals to expand background checks to all gun purchases and limit the size of ammunition magazines that can be sold. McCaskill says such steps can be taken while still protecting Second Amendment rights.
But Blunt says Obama’s proposals attempt to restrict Second Amendment rights. Among other things, Obama wants Congress to ban the sale of military-style assault weapons.