a powerful weapon. we maybe can't save everybody, but we can save some. just as we don't prevent all traffic accidents but we take steps to try to reduce traffic accidents. as ronald reagan once said, if mandatory back ground checks could save more lives, it would be well worth making it the law of the land. the bill before congress three unfortunately, too many senators failed theirs. [ applause ] in fact, we know that background checks make a difference after connecticut passed a law requiring background checks and gun safety courses, gun deaths

[ applause ] meanwhile, since missouri repealed a law requiring gun permits and background checks, guns have increased to more than 50% of the national average. criminals in missouri now have easier access to guns. and the evidence tells us that in states that require background checks, law-abiding americans don't find it any harder to purchase guns whatsoever. their guns have not been confiscated. their rights have not been infringed. and that's just the information we have access to. with more research, we could further improve gun safety. just as with more research, we have reduced traffic fatalities enormously over the last 30 years. we do research when cars, food, medicine, even toys harm people

and you know what? research science, those are good things. they work. [ applause ] they do. but think about this. when it comes to an inherently deadly weapon. a -- nobody argues that guns are potentially deadly. but weapons that kill tens of thousands of americans every year, congress actually voted to make it harder for public health experts to conduct research into gun violence. made it harder to collect data and facts. and develop strategies to reduce gun violence. even after san bernardino,

harder for terror suspects who can't get on a plane to buy semi-automatic weapons. that's not right. that can't be right. so the gun lobby may be holding congress hostage right now. but they cannot hold america hostage. we do not have to accept this carnage is the price for freedom. [ applause ]

still needs to act. the folks in this room will not rest until congress does. [ cheers and applause ] because once congress gets on board, with common sense gun safety measures, we can reduce gun violence a whole lot more. but we also can't wait. until we have a congress that's in line with the majority of americans, there are actions within my legal authority that we can take to help reduce gun violence and save more lives. actions that protect our rights and our kids. after sandy hook, joe and i worked together with our teams and we put forward a whole

try to tighten up the existing rules and systems that we had in place. but today, we want to take it a step further. so let me outline what we're going to be doing. number one, anybody in the business of selling fire arms must get a license and conduct background checks or be subject to criminal prosecutions. [ applause ] it doesn't matter whether you're doing it over the internet or at a gun show. it's not where you do it but what you do. we're also expanding background checks to cover violent criminals who try to buy some of

hiding behind trusts and corporations and various cutouts. we're also taking steps to make the background check system more efficient. under the guidance of jim thome and the fbi, deputy director tom brandon at atf, we're going to hire more folks process applications faster and bring an outdated barack ground check system into the 21st century. [ applause ] and these steps will actually lead to a smoother process for law-abiding gun cone owners. a stronger process for protecting the public from dangerous people. so that's number one. number two, we're going to do everything we can to ensure the smart and effective enforcement

already on the books. which means we're going to add 200 more atf agents, up vest gators. require firearm dealers to report more lost or stolen guns on a more timely basis. we're working with advocates to protect victims of domestic abuse from gun violence. where too often -- [ applause ] where too often people are not need. number three, we're going to do more to help those suffering help that they need. so -- [ applause ] high-profile mass shootings tend to shine a light on those few mentally unstable people that inflict harm on others. but the fact is, nearly 2 in 3

so a lot of our work is to prevent people from hurting themselves. that's why we made the affordable care act, also known as obama care, finally -- under that law made sure that treatment for mental health was covered the the same as treatment for any other illness. that's why we're going to invest $500 million to expand access to treatment across the country. [ applause ] it's also why we're going to ensure that federal mental health records are submitted to the background check system and remove barriers that keep states from reporting information. if we can destigmatize mental health issues and fill gaps in the background check system, question spare more families the

and for those in congress who rush to blame mental illness for mass shootings as way of avoiding action on guns, here's put your money with is. [ applause ] number four. we're going to boost gun safety technology. today many gun injuries and deaths are the result of legal guns that were stolen or misused or discharged accidentally. 2013 alone, more than 500 people accidents. that includes 30 children the greatest, most technologically advanced nation on earth there is no reason for this. we need to develop new technologies to make guns safer. set it up so you can't unlock

right fingerprint, why can't we do the same thing for our guns? [ applause ] if there's an app that can help us find a missing tablet, which happens to me often, the older i get. [ laughter ] then we can do it for your ipad, there's no reason we can't do it with a stolen gun. if a child can't open a bottle of aspirin, we should make hur that they can't pull a trigger all right? [ applause ] research. we're going to work with the arms technology.

already stepping up by refusing to finalize a purchase without a complete background check or by refraining from selling semi-automatic weapons or high-capacity magazines. i hope that me more re ore retailers and manufacturers join them. they should care as much as anybody about ah something that kills almost as many americans as car accidents. i make this point because none of us can do this alone. i think mark made that point earlier. all of us should be able to work together to find a balance that declares the rest of our rights are also important. second amendment rights are important. but -- there are other rights that we care about as well. and we have to be able to balance them.

freely and safely -- that right was denied to christians in charleston, south carolina. and that was denied jews in kansas city. and that was denied muslims in chapel hill and those in oak creek. they had rights, too. [ applause ] our right to peaceful assembly, that right was robbed from movie goers in aurora and lafayette. our inalien able right to life and lishty and the pursuit of happiness, those rights were stripped from kids in blacksburg and santa barbara and from high schoolers in column bin

and from first graders in newtown. first graders. and from every family who -- who never imagined that their loved one would be taken from our lives by a bullet from a gun. every time i think about those kids, it gets me mad. the streets of chicago every day. [ applause ] so -- all of us need to demand a

up to the gun lobby's lies. all of us need to demand governors, legislators, businesses do their part to make our community safer. we need the wide majority of responsible gun owners who grieve with us every time this happens and feel like your views are not being properly represented to join with us to demand something better. [ applause ] and we need voters who want safer gun laws and who are disappointed in leaders who stand in their way to remember come election time. [ cheers and applause ]

simple math. yes, the gun lobby is loud and organized in defense of making it effortless for guns to be available for anybody anytime. well you know what? the rest of us, we all have to be just as passionate. we have to be just as organized in defense of our kids. this is not that complicated. is because they want to win elections. and if you make it hard for them to win an election if they block those laws, they'll change course, i promise you.

and yes, it will be hard. and it won't happen overnight. it won't happen during this congress. it won't happen during my presidency. but a lot of things don't happen overnight. a woman's right to vote didn't happen overnight. the liberation of african americans didn't happen overnight. lgbt rights. decades worth of work. so just because it's hard that's no excuse not to try. and if you have any doubt as to why you should feel that fierce

happened three weeks ago. tennessee. he played football, beloved by his classmates and teachers. his own mayor called him one of their city's success stories. the week before christmas, he headed to a friend's house to play video games. he wasn't in the wrong place at the wrong time. he hadn't made a bad decision. kid would be. your kid. my kids. and then gunmen started firing. and xavion who was in high school hadn't even gotten started in life dove on top of three girls to shield them from

and he was shot in the head. and the girls were spared. he gave his life to save theirs. an act of heroism a lot bigger than anything we should ever expect from a 15-year-old. greater love hath no man than this. that a man lay down his life for his friends. we are not asked to do what xavion dobson did. we're not asked to have shoulders that big, heart that strong, reactions that quick. i'm not asking people to have that same level of courage or sacrifice or love. but if we love our kids and care about their prospects and if we love this country and care about

the courage to vote. we can find the courage to get mobilized and organized. we can find the courage to cut through all the noise. and do what a sensible country would do. that's what we're doing today. and tomorrow we should do more. and we should do more the day after that. and if we do, we'll leave behind a nation that's stronger than the one we inherited and worthy of the sacrifice of a young man like xavion. thank you very much, everybody. god bless. thank you. god bless america. >> a passionate and emotional president barack obama wrapping up his remarks in the east room right now. tearing up as he spoke about the rights being robbed from the victims of gun violence.

sandy hook elementary school back in 2012. president often called that the worse day of his presidency. demanding action now. saying that the gun lobby may be holding congress hostage. it cannot hold america hostage. he lines up a series of executive actions to expand and improve background checks. enforce the laws on the books. improve gun safety technology. more research into mental health. the president so often allows his passion to show so frustrated by the issue. i want to go mary bruce. also probably in the speech this morning. the president referenced the opposition. already fierce opposition from the speaker of the house and republicans on the campaign trail. >> absolutely. republicans have already been blasting the president's plan. even before the details were announced. on the campaign trail, republican candidates have said elected. up on the hill, lawmakers are

the speaker of the house has accused the president of a dangerous level of overreach and subverting the legislative branch. the president feels he's well within his legal rights here. beyond that that he's justified in acting because congress has failed to do so. you just saw how frustrated the president is on this issue. how deeply he feels about this. that is incredibly rare to see the president get so emotional about an issue like this. because remember, today is about more than just the president announcing these modest proposals. this is about him setting the office. about trying to reignite a this problem. >> thank you, mary. i want to go to pierre thomas. the emotion does show when the issue. sandy hook. he said it happens in the day. >> clearly, george. no matter where you stand on this issue, we know it's an

washington. to see the tears streaming down rare. he talked about every time hi thinks about sandy hook and those first graders, he gets angry. then pointing out the young man who died recently trying the save the lives of those children around him. a 15-year-old. stunning moment as well. >> sure was. xavion dobson, saying we all can't have the courage to sacrifice our lives. we can have the counsel to vote. we'll have much more tonight on "world news with david muir." i'll see you tomorrow on "good morning america." ha >> this is wcvb newscenter 5 at noon. emily: one special operations troops killed in afghanistan. erika: it happened during an

-- alabama. -- taliban. emily: delays. ve left out in the cold. erika: as you just saw, the president cracking down on gun violence, outlining his executive action on gun control. emily: the state is getting plastered with their first are the chill of the year. zero. re talking about warm up. cindy: it' i think by tomorrow afternoon we will be up to 40 degrees. the coldest day since february are

nash was down to five. it was just wanted jeffrey. just -- one in jeffrey. s on the cape early this morning. that is where we had that ocean effect snow. can see how bright sky in boston is right now. it' s been a struggle and a slow climb the hit 20 degrees. there is enough wind out there that we are talking about a bit it feels like 11 at right now. little bit. the component of the wind ocean effect snow bands to plymouth county. degree. teens are this evening. we will talk more about the warm

emily: a train derailed and has severe delays on the commuter --. todd: two coaches derailed at moments ago. rep that to get derailed coaches back on track. as you can see, a locomotive is in place and it will haul the strain away. there will be a smooth evening commute did --. it' s hard to see the problem since both coaches operate. up close, three chassis are off the track are in --. the train is heading those on the commuter rails. no passengers were aboard. >> the engineer study to feel

the chassis just want moving. wheels back of the tracks. the contractor who operates the rail said this had a major impact it --. >> they are unable to get around it. we have had canceled trains from newbury to rock port. to us passengers. that combined with the reduced number of trains and service caused delays of up to one hour winter so far. >> i like it better without the train wreck. t be there until 10:00. here we go again. todd: investigators are looking into a track failure as a cause

locomotive. only two derailed. they are looking to get things back to work momentarily. the locomotive is trying to haul them away. reporting live. red line. this is a track issue that is temporarily replacing service. a few northbound delays were reported as well. erika: the delays come as they consider options to raise fares. one proposal calls for a systemwide height on average of .7%. the other is 9.8%. the big story is the price of monthly passes. essence of what esses with

the more severe is a $9.50. how much they are spending in overtime. they paid up third $2 million in 2015 to staffers who worked fewer than 40 hours per week. time spending. they started working on a new policy over the summer to address the issue. died. it happened in malden. the driver did stay at the scene and has not been charged. the victim was taken to the hospital where he died. a man accused of dragging a woman while trying to rob her is under arrest. he turned himself into police last night. the victim said he offered to bring her cigarettes and as she leaned in, he took off her wallet.

40 feet. he is charged with robbery and reckless conduct. erika: a school was evacuated after carbon monoxide was the tech it inside. no one was hurt and no students were there at the time. they were held on school buses as firefighters investigated. they were later passed to a school for the day. a+ campuses underway after sexual abuse in rhode island prep school. more than 40 victims have come forward. they say they were abused at st. george' s school in the 1970' s and 80' s. they are expected to criticize the schools. they are calling for an independent investigation. emily: a teenager has died. he was discovered on the northern strand community trail behind an overpass. they did not hear or see anything.