On January 5th President Barack Obama announced he would be taking executive action on gun control. Here’s the 5 main takeaways from the President’s plans. 

1. Background Checks for All – It doesn’t matter where you buy a firearm – story, gun show, internet- those in the business of selling firearms will be required to have a license and conduct a background check by the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF). 

2. The FBI will be cleaning up the background check system to make sure it is more efficient, which will include an additional 230 personnel to help process background checks. 

3. Increase mental health treatment – Obama is proposing $500 million be invested in order to increase access to mental health care. 

4. Mental health condition to be reported in background check – the Department of Health and Human services is removing barriers that would prevent states from reporting information on people who are not allowed to posses a gun due to mental health. 

5. Smart guns – The Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security have been directed by the President to conduct or sponsor research on gun safety technology.