Over a month after the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 26 people dead, President Obama took the matter into his own hands and signed into law 23 executive actions – which don’t need Congressional approval – in hopes of curbing gun violence. Joined by relatives of the victims and children from Newtown, the President penned the executive orders and called on Congress to work to pass gun legislation.

Following the tragedy that struck Newtown, the Obama Administration rallied their efforts to reduce gun violence. Vice President Joe Biden has met with a number of groups since the shooting with gun violence as the main topic. These meetings produced a list of actions and possible solutions. The President was then briefed on a number of executive actions he could take and what concrete steps he could ask Congress to explore.

In a press conference Wednesday the President said, “We can’t put this off any longer.” He spoke of the actions he would sign and said they would give law enforcement, schools, mental health professionals, and the public health community the “…tools they need to help reduce gun violence.”

The executive orders were aimed at putting in place the necessities for a debate about gun control. According to the White House, some of the 23 executive orders include reviewing safety standards for gun locks and gun safes and maximizing enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime. The executive orders signed by the President didn’t directly address gun control, yet it did, in the President’s mind, put in place a campaign against gun violence.

President Obama also spoke on what he would ask Congress to do. He said Congress should reinstate a ban on military assault weapons and place a ten round limit on magazines. He also added he would like Congress to pass legislation creating universal background checks for anyone wishing to purchase a firearm and create tougher penalties for people who sell guns to those who aren’t allowed to possess one.

He did speak about how hard the fight to actually push these proposals through Congress would be saying, “There will pundits and politicians and special interest lobbyists publicly warning of a tyrannical all out assault on liberty.”

The President’s proposal face’s a fierce fight garnering Congressional approval. Even in the Senate, controlled by Democrats, granting all of the President’s wishes will be tough, not to mention the all-but-certain coming campaign by numerous interest groups from both sides of the debate.

Even if these proposals do not turn into laws, many people agree that it is a good first step in ensuring safety to everyone in malls, theaters, and, on especially schools. The debate over how to reduce gun violence will surely rage and a violent struggle is guaranteed. People from both sides will continue to watch the fight very closely and await an outcome.