MANCHESTER, N.H. — Hillary Rodham Clinton offered an emotional plea for tougher gun control laws Monday, vowing after last week’s Oregon school shooting to tighten regulations on firearms buyers and sellers with a combination of congressional and executive action.

Joined by the mother of a 6-year-old victim of the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, the Democratic presidential candidate said there was little “new” and “nothing unique” about her plans – aside from her determination to take action.

During a campaign appearance, she veered between sadness and anger, accusing Republicans of “surrender” to a difficult political problem.

“How many people have to die before we actually act, before we come together as a nation?” she said.

Clinton has made strengthened gun laws a centerpiece of her campaign, which rolled out a robust set of proposals Monday, including using executive action to expand background check requirements..

Clinton pledged to require anyone “attempting to sell a significant number of guns” to be considered a dealer, and therefore need a federal license. She did not define “significant.”

Efforts to require such comprehensive background checks have failed in recent years in Congress, where Republican leaders have shown no willingness to even hold votes on efforts to curb access to guns.

Clinton also said she would support a law to expand the definition of domestic abusers barred from buying guns. She also wants to prohibit retailers from selling guns to people with incomplete background checks. She also proposed repealing legislation that shields gun makers, distributors and dealers from most liability suits.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.