Obama takes on gun crime

The headline of our post reads: Obama takes on gun crime

Take the quiz to learn the 5 meanings for the phrasal verb “take on”:

Some statistics about handguns in the US:

(click on the image to enlarge)

Gun Control

If you click on the words in blue & dotted, you are able to see their meaning.

Obama announces expansion of Background Checks for Gun Purchases

Barack Obama to close background checks loophole  on gun sales

Obama details executive action on gun restrictions

Obama to bypass Congress on  gun control measures

US President Obama wants to make it more difficult for Americans to buy guns. And he’s using special powers to do it.

 Step 1: Listen

You’re going to hear a genuine BBC news report from 5th January 2016. Before you listen, read these three summaries:

a) US President Obama is using Congress to pass laws to make gun control stronger.

b) US President Obama has made gun control stronger.

c) US President Obama is using special powers to make gun control stronger.

Now listen and decide which one is correct. Listen again if you need to.

Click to find out the Answer

Step 2: Learn the key words and listen again

How was that? Try listening again. Here are three definitions of key vocabulary items which may help you.

background checks
checks on the things a person has done in their past

bypass
to go around something in order to avoid it

executive order
an order given by the president or the governor of a state in the US which is like a law

Now, listen to the track again and try to write down the entire statement. If there are some words that you don’t understand, don’t worry! Do you best and then read on to see the transcript and to continue the lesson!

Step 3: Transcript

The White House has given details of President Obama’s plans to tighten gun controls in the US.

It says all gun sellers will have to be registered and must carry out Background Checks on buyers.

After years of fierce opposition, President Obama has decided to bypass Congress and introduce the measures through a series of executive orders.

 This bulletin comes from BBC World Service Radio.

source of the article 

The story

From a BBC report on 5th January 2016:

The White House has given details of President Obama’s plans to tighten gun controls in the US.

It says all gun sellers will have to be registered and must carry out background checks on buyers.

After years of fierce opposition, President Obama has decided to bypass Congress and introduce the measures through a series of executive orders.

US President Barack Obama extract from the video:

Although we have to be very clear that this is not going to solve every violent crime in this country. It’s not going to prevent every mass shooting. It’s not going to keep every gun out of the hands of a criminal. It will potentially save lives in this country and spare families the pain and the extraordinary loss that they’ve suffered as a consequence of a firearm being in the hands of the wrong people.

* read the complete Remarks by the President on Recommendations on Gun Safety on The White House site

Want to know more about the topic? 5 facts about guns in the United States

Want to activate your English? Write your comment about this topic using the pieces of vocabulary learned in this post!

1) What do you think of President Obama’s decision? Was he right to bypass the Congress?

2) What is your take on the graph I posted about handguns in the US?

3) Do you agree with the following image, posted on Barack Obama’s Instagram page?

*bold = courageous, brave

A bold move