Obama: ‘Be tough on terrorism’ with gun control

President Obama on Tuesday called for action on gun control following the nation’s deadliest mass shooting, pitching the renewed push as an anti-terrorism tactic.

{mosads}”Enough talking about being tough on terrorism; actually be tough on terrorism. Stop making it as easy as possible for terrorists to buy assault weapons,” Obama said.

Unless steps are taken to control access to guns, Obama said, “these kind of events are going to keep on happening. … The weapons are only going to get more powerful.”

Democrats have launched a gun control push following the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday that killed 49 people and injured dozens more. 

Omar Mateen, the gunman in the attack, declared allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in a 911 call. Obama said the 29-year-old became radicalized over the internet.

“If we really want to help law enforcement protect Americans from homegrown extremists, the kind of tragedies that occurred in San Bernardino and have now occurred in Orlando, there is a meaningful way to do that,” Obama said.

“We have to make it harder for people who want to kill Americans to get their hands on weapons of war that let them kill dozens of innocents,” he said. 

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has similarly called for action to curb access to “weapons of war.”

The Orlando shooter legally purchased a handgun and AR-15-style rifle, according to authorities. Gun rights advocates have noted that he had a government-approved security license.

Obama called for more resources for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, prohibiting those on a federal no-fly list from buying guns and reinstating the federal assault weapons ban.

“We cannot prevent every tragedy, but we know that consistent with the Second Amendment there are common-sense steps that could reduce gun violence and reduce the lethality of somebody who intends to do other people harm,” he said.