President Barack Obama used his executive authority to issue restrictions on gun sales in an effort to reduce gun violence.

From the White House, Obama issued an executive action that will allow the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions (ATF) to ensure all gun businesses have a license and conduct background checks -- this affects gun stores, gun shows and gun sales on the Internet.

The ATF is also tasked to require background checks for people purchasing what is considered as "some of the most dangerous weapons" with collaboration of a trust, corporation or another legal entity. The ATF will track illegal firearms trafficking through its Internet Investigation Center and is finalizing guidelines to guarantee gun dealers notify law enforcement if their guns are lost or stolen during a transaction.

The FBI will overhaul its background check system to include 24/7 background checks, improved notifying local authorities whenever prohibited persons unlawfully attempts to purchase a gun. The FBI will also hire over 230 examiners and staff to assist in the expanded background checks.

The White House also acknowledged Attorney General Loretta Lynch has sent a letter to U.S. states about the need to receive complete criminal history records, dispositions and information that would disqualify someone due to mental illness.

In regards to mental health, the Obama administration has requested $500 million to invest in increased access to mental health care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is reportedly finalizing a rule to eliminate "unnecessary legal barriers" that prevents states from reporting relevant information pertaining to people prohibited from having a gun due to specific mental issues.

Obama's executive actions comes a day after issuing a memorandum to Lynch and the secretaries of the Defense Department and Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology that would reduce the frequency of accidental shootings, illegal use of firearms and better monitoring of lost or stolen guns. The aforementioned departments will have 90 days from Jan. 4 to jointly report outlining research and development strategies to "expedite the real-world deployment of such technology for use in practice."

Based on Latino Decisions' 2013 survey on gun control policy, Latinos were found to "widely" support policies emphasizing on tracking and prevention. Most Latinos support criminal background checks (84 percent) and the creation of a national database (69 percent). Most Latinos also opposed loaded weapons in schools, including teachers or security personnel, and restrict the mentally ill from owning a gun.

President Barack Obama Gun Control Executive Action 2015:

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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