Obama Address Highlights Intensified Security Debate_美文

Obama Address Highlights Intensified Security Debate

"We need to renew the assault weapons ban," said Senator and Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders. "We need to end the sale of high-capacity magazines. We need to make gun trafficking a federal crime."

Big issue: gun control

Gun control is a non-starter for many Republicans.

"The left's immediate reaction to Islamic terrorists, like kittens with their eyes closed, is not to go after the bad guys, but immediately to try to seize the guns of law-abiding citizens," said Senator and presidential candidate Ted Cruz.

Even the terms used to frame the debate on violence and terrorism are contested.

"Call it for what it is. This is a fight for Western civilization," said Republican presidential contender Jeb Bush on ABC's This Week. "They (Islamic State) have declared war on us."

President Obama has declined to use the term 'Islamic terrorism' and Clinton says that's the right call.

"That sounds like we are declaring war against a religion," Clinton said on This Week. "It helps create this 'clash of civilizations' (concept) that is actually a recruiting tool for ISIS and other radical jihadists."

The Republican-led Congress has until week's end to extend the U.S. government's spending authority and avert a partial shutdown. The San Bernardino attack and Obama's national address assure that Washington's attention will be divided.