It’s easier to buy a gun than a book or fresh vegetables in some neighborhoods, according to President Obama who spoke at a townhall at Benedict College on Friday.

Obama complained about Congress not passing stricter gun regulations to those at the historically black college in Columbia, S.C. Citing the mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012, the president said Congress should have more than enough motivation to pass greater gun restrictions.

"People say we should have firearms in kindergarten and have machine guns in bars. You think I’m exaggerating. You look at these laws that come up."

“As long as you can go in some neighborhoods and it is easier for you to buy a firearm than it is for you to buy a book, there are neighborhoods where it is easier for you to buy a handgun and clips than it is for you to buy a fresh vegetable, as long as that’s the case, we’re going to continue to see unnecessary violence” Obama said at the town hall meeting Friday afternoon.

“In some places it goes the opposite direction,” Obama also said. “People say we should have firearms in kindergarten and have machine guns in bars. You think I’m exaggerating. You look at these laws that come up. Despite those frustrations, I would say it is still within our control to reduce the incidence of handguns violence by making sure your young people understand that that is not a sign of strength.”

This was Obama’s first appearance in the Palmetto state since he ran for president in 2008.

According to The Blaze, South Carolina is one of the most gun-friendly states in the country.

In January, a S.C. state lawmaker proposed a “Second Amendment Education Act” which would teach the Second Amendment for at least three consecutive weeks in the state’s public schools.

While at Benedict, Obama touted his free community college plan, and discussed global warming, the latest job numbers, police and racial tensions in Ferguson, and the Keystone Pipeline.

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