Gun owners weigh in on president's plan

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - In the wake of the school shootings in Connecticut, a sweeping $500 million program to curb gun violence was announced by President Obama.

It calls for universal background checks, bans on military style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

"We do have background checks but that's not going to take the guns out of the criminals' hands.," T.J. Tharrington, who was shopping at Bob's Gun Shop in Norfolk Wednesday told WAVY.com. "Legal or not, they're still going to get guns. If they put this gun ban in then they're going to take guns from our citizens, responsible citizens, who can defend themselves under the second amendment of our constitution."

Another gun owner, Bret McGough, said he agrees with some parts of Obama's proposal.

"We should have background checks on everybody that buys weapons and I think the things on high capacity ammunition magazines... I think it's just pestering," McGough said.

Bob Marcus, the owner of Bob's Gun Shop told WAVY.com business has been booming. He said he is unable to keep his racks and showcases full at any one time.

"I don't believe anything that's being proposed would prevent anything like [the shooting in Newtown] from happening again, short of armed security in schools," Marcus said. "As far as an assault weapons ban, I don't see that happened in the climate that is Washington. I don't think the voters are for it and I think the firearms community as a whole is going to fight it."