In a recent interview with “CBS Mornings” former President Barack Obama claimed that gun ownership has turned into a partisan and ideological issue in the U.S. when it should not have.
The interview with co-host Nate Burleson is set to air next Tuesday. In it, Obama argued that in many ways the current arguments about gun ownership are in fact acting as a “proxy” for other “culture wars” issues. He added that many of the arguments end up including questions about identity and emotion instead of just focusing on children’s safety.
In recent months, there have been a number of mass shootings, leading to renewed calls for further gun restrictions and legislation. Last weekend, there was a mass shooting in Texas that resulted in eight people dying, including three Last month, a mass shooting in a bank in Louisville, Ky., led to five deaths, while a mass school shooting in Nashville Tennessee in late March, resulted in six people dying, including three 9-year-old children.
Despite the increase in mass shootings, not all states have moved towards stricter gun laws. While some states have tried to implement more gun regulations, the decision made by the Supreme Court in the landmark case New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen last year has resulted in many new regulations being blocked.
According to that ruling, any gun restrictions implemented must be aligned with the country’s historical traditions. On Wednesday this decision was used by a federal judge to strike down a Virginia gun law that would block those below the age of 21 from purchasing handguns.
