Reaction split in wake of Pres. Obama's executive action to curb gun violence

MILWAUKEE -- Pres. Barack Obama is doing by executive action what Congress will not -- requiring background checks for more gun sales. Reaction to the move is split.

Pres. Obama was emotional Tuesday as he remembered the elementary school students in Connecticut who died in 2012. His executive action requires background checks for many more gun sales.

"This is not a plot to take away everybody's guns," said Pres. Obama.

But many, like Nik Clark of the gun rights group Wisconsin Carry, see it that way.

It is unclear whether individual sellers will have to get a license just to sell a gun -- and some fear the background check process will bog down.

"We're putting more and more infringement and more restrictions on law-abiding citizens, when the real problem is this criminal element. And the president doesn't want to address that. What he's proposing wouldn't address that," said Clark.

To make his point, the president listed recent mass shootings, twice referencing Oak Creek and the Sikh Temple shooting. People at the temple say the president is making the right move. But they want more.

"We feel optimistic about that. We feel grateful, first of all, to the president, that he mentioned the Sikh Temple a couple of times in his speech. It shows he cares," said Rahul Dubey, Sikh Temple member.

Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore called the president's executive actions "sensible." But House Speaker Paul Ryan says the executive actions will be challenged in court.

"Well, I think one more time he's doing something he doesn't have the authority to do," said Congressman Glenn Grothman. "I hope that eventually the court system will deny him the opportunity to do this."