Story highlights Elliot Fineman: President Barack Obama's executive actions on guns won't make a big difference

Obama should declare a National State of Emergency for the Gun Violence Epidemic

Elliot Fineman is founder and CEO of National Gun Victims Action Council, a nonprofit network of 14 million gun victims, survivors and others in the community who advocate for better gun laws. Follow him on Twitter: @GunVictimsAct. Watch "Guns in America," CNN's town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at 8 p.m. ET Thursday. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

(CNN) On Thursday night, Anderson Cooper will host a town hall meeting with President Barack Obama about "Guns in America." This is part of Obama's sincere and heartfelt effort to reduce gun violence through executive actions, which he announced on Tuesday.

I applaud the President's intentions and thinking, but I'm afraid his plans won't do much to change things. Republican obstructionism will likely tie his new gun actions up in court and delay implementation as was the case with his immigration executive orders. And, even if the actions are implemented, they will do little or nothing to reduce gun violence.

Elliot Fineman

I speak as a parent who lost a child and a gun control advocate. My only son, Michael, was murdered on December 30, 2006, while having dinner with his wife in a restaurant in San Diego. His killer, despite having twice been in mental institutions, was legally able to buy the gun that took Michael's life.

My son's death shattered my life. When I could function again, I decided to focus all my attention to help prevent other parents and families from going through the same unending horror. I founded an organization to combat gun violence.

Obama's executive orders include closing portions of the gun show loophole by requiring more sellers of guns to be licensed and do background checks, expanding funding to enforce current gun laws and increase resources for mental health care.

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