Obama Cries During His Gun Remarks

President Obama laid out his plan to tighten gun laws Tuesday—see details here—at one point with tears running down his cheek. It came when he spoke of the young victims at Sandy Hook Elementary, reports USA Today. "First graders," he said, choking up. "Every time I hear about those kids, it gets me mad." Some other moments:

• "The gun lobby may be holding Congress hostage right now, but they cannot hold America hostage."
• "People are dying. ... And the constant excuses for inaction no longer suffice."
• "If a child can’t open a bottle of aspirin, we should make sure they can’t pull the trigger on a gun."

• "I believe in the Second Amendment, there written on paper, that guarantees the right to bear arms. ... But I also believe that we can find ways to reduce gun violence consistent with the Second Amendment."
• In his reaction, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Obama's actions can be overturned by a Republican president, reports CNN. "Rather than focus on criminals and terrorists, he goes after the most law-abiding of citizens."
• The New York Times has a Q&A on Obama's plan to require more gun sellers, all those "engaged in the business," to conduct background checks. It's not so much an expansion of the law as a clarification of it.
• Despite all the headlines, all this adds up to only a "modest" set of reforms, reports the Washington Post.

(More President Obama stories.)