Gun shop, former president of gun violence prevention group weigh in on Pres. Obama's plan

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Everyone seems to have their own opinion on President Obama's approach to gun violence.  We reached out to a local gun salesman and the former president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
 

Universal background check

Matt Reeb is a gun salesman at Freedom Firearms.  He agrees with the President - background checks on everyone who buys a gun is necessary.  Former Mayor of Fort Wayne and President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent gun violence, Paul Helmke, was pleased to hear the news.

"Right now, about 40 percent of all gun sales there is no background check.  So, doing universal background checks will help make it harder for dangerous people to get guns," Helmke said.

Will this keep guns out of the hands of criminals? Reeb doesn't think so.

"If somebody wants a firearm, they're going to get it.  I don't care if it's in the back alley here in Fort Wayne on any given time.  If you have enough money, you can pretty much do whatever you want," Reeb explained.

Helmke said strengthening laws already in place may deter people from selling guns to felons.  Rght now he said people essentially get a slap across the wrist.

"What happens though is people go in and buy 81 of the same make and model they will then surprise, surprise stick them in their trunk and start selling them to gang bangers and criminals all around the place," Helmke said.


Banning military assault rifles

President Obama also wants to ban military assault rifles.  Reeb doesn't believe these guns are any more dangerous.

"That is just as dangerous  or a 357 magnum revolver the old six shot is just as dangerous.  It all shoots one bullet," Reeb said.

"These weapons aren't designed for hunting.  These weapons aren't designed for self-defense.  These weapons are designed for one purpose only and that's to kill a lot of people quickly," Helmke said.

Click here to see an outline of what President Obama would like to see done to fight back against gone violence.