J. Tyler Holmes

(Editorial written for Feature and Opinion Writing edited by ex-Chicago Tribune Editorial Board member Dodie Hofstetter – 4/27/16)

The biggest challenge President Barack Obama currently faces is trying to make a positive and lasting change on gun laws before his presidency comes to an end with the election approaching in November.

Obama has addressed serious concerns after the dramatic increase of gun-related incidents. Mass shootings have become much more frequent all over the country in recent years and show no sign of declining. A Loyola University Chicago student was robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday walking near the school’s Lake Shore Campus. Innocent bystanders are affected from stray bullets due to gun violence, which also occurred at Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus in January. Children are discovering guns in their households due to poor safety precautions that are not being emphasized upon the purchase of a firearm.

In 2015, guns were the cause of more than 13,200 deaths and there were 26,800 gun-related injuries, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Contributing to that were 372 mass shootings that resulted in 475 deaths and 1,870 injuries, according to the Mass Shooting Tracker. 64 school shootings occurred according to Everytown For Gun Safety, a campaign group organized after the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting taking place in Connecticut in 2012.

Obama has spoken out in favor of increases gun restrictions and attempting to change regulations in order to obtain a weapon, however his impact cannot be as great on the issue as it is overshadowed by the upcoming 2016 presidential elections. Major changes in legislation take time and rallying which the president does not have in order to gain more support from Congress.

“Since Republicans took over the House in 2011, Obama has faced extraordinary obstruction from Congress. Yet his use of executive orders remains limited,” according to the U.S. News and World report.

While his presidency is coming to a close, Obama is at least trying to bring to light the many unsolved issues that still affect Americans overall. Hopefully by lifting the cover back from so many of these other problems like racial tension and women’s rights, those looking to take his place in power will become adamant in looking for effective solutions.