Paul Ryan: Gun show loophole an 'obvious' problem

Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said in a video published Monday that requiring universal background checks for gun purchases was indisputably needed.

He told Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel editorial board that closing the so-called gun show loophole was "an area we need to look into." Though licensed gun dealers are required to run federal background checks, private sellers at gun shows and other venues do not have the same requirement.

Ryan said it was an "obvious" problem.

Some Republicans and the National Rifle Association have denied that the loophole even exists.

Requiring universal background checks for gun purchases is a key component of President Barack Obama's plan to reduce gun violence, along with renewing the assault weapons ban and limiting the size of magazines.

However, Ryan doubted that renewing the assault weapons ban or restricting high-capacity magazines would reduce gun violence. He said people had legitimate reasons to own semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15, which has been used in several mass shootings. Ryan said focusing on American culture and the mental health system would be a better avenue for Congress to pursue.

Watch video, uploaded to YouTube by the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel,below: