Semiautomatic rifles such as the AR-15 family are valuable for sporting and self-defense purposes. These rifles are used regularly for hunting and sport-shooting, and have been used defensively in high-profile incidents such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Therefore, it is a logical extension of the Obama administration's stated policy to defend the right of Americans to own this type of weapon.
One of the common factors in recent mass shootings has been mental illness on the part of the shooter. Accordingly, would be logical to study possible methods of identifying mental illness in an individual before it becomes a threat. These individuals could be subject to restrictions on firearms ownership, theoretically protecting Americans from unstable individuals..