Henderson gun shop owner reacts to executive order

CHESTER COUNTY, Tenn. — “I don’t really know yet how much difficulty it will cause people,” said the owner of Robertson Trading Post, John Robertson. “It will probably cause some.”

Robertson, an online gun retailer in Henderson, said President Obama’s executive action announced Tuesday, aimed at preventing guns from getting into the wrong hands, is nothing new.

“He’s not doing anything that hadn’t been done before, but it looks like he is,” Robertson said.

Although background checks already are in place for most gun sales, the executive order makes it harder to sell a firearm online or at a gun show without a license. Another major point made by the president was eliminating the ability for those with mental health issues to buy weapons.

“We’re going to ensure that federal mental health records are submitted to the background check system and remove barriers that prevent states from reporting relevant information,” President Obama said.

Madison County Sheriff John Mehr agrees with the president.

“People who have mental issues shouldn’t be able to buy firearms,” Mehr said. “It should be more regulations keeping people from doing that, but the reporting and background checks are already in place.”

The president’s executive order is stirring controversy, but Robertson says many gun owners should hold off on being upset, at least for now.

“Gun owners will want to go into discussion with guns blazing,” Robertson said. “That’s not a good way to proceed.”