Obama: I will not support any candidate who does not support gun reform
In an editorial in The New York Times published Thursday evening, Obama stressed the need for "common-sense" gun laws and gave a warning to next election's crop of candidates.
"I will not campaign for, vote for or support any candidate, even in my own party, who does not support common-sense gun reform," he wrote.
Earlier this week, Obama unveiled a set of executive actions that narrow the "gun-show loophole" by requiring firearm dealers to issue tougher background checks on prospective buyers. The executive steps also expand the ATF, aim to improve mental-health treatment, and sponsor new research into gun-safety technology.
In the editorial, Obama criticized Congress for repeatedly blocking firearm safety legislation and giving gun manufacturers "virtual immunity" from lawsuits.
"As parents, we wouldn't put up with this if we were talking about faulty car seats. Why should we tolerate it for products - guns - that kill so many children each year?" he wrote.