Guns Should Be Registered, Clinton Says

President Clinton said Friday that Americans should be required to register guns as they do cars, waving a red flag in front of gun owner advocates who long have argued that registration could be a step toward new restrictions, even confiscation.

But the president said he is not proposing mandatory registration, because he believes Congress won’t accept it.

In his most extensive comments yet on gun registration, Clinton angrily rejected the notion that he hasn’t fought hard enough to curb gun violence.

“Should people ought to have to register guns like they register their cars? Do I think that? Of course I do,” the president said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Most Americans would support such a move, “but they elected the Congress, and the Congress doesn’t have that opinion.”

The Senate approved a package of restrictions, such as background checks for gun show sales. The House will take up similar legislation after it reconvenes next week.