VALDOSTA – On Tuesday morning, a tearful President Barack Obama announced steps he will be taking in the form of executive actions to reduce gun violence, and while some have criticized the increased background checks, some local law enforcement officials agree with at least one focus of the proposed changes: mental health.

Recalling mass shootings in Tucson, Aurora, Newtown, San Bernardino and other U.S. cities, the President said he wants to take “common sense steps to save lives and protect more of our children.”

“I believe in the 2nd Amendment. It’s there written on the paper. It guarantees the right to bear arms,” Obama said. “… but I also believe that we can find ways to reduce gun violence consistent with the 2nd Amendment. Think about it. We all believe in the first amendment, the guarantee of free speech, but we accept you can’t yell ‘fire’ in a theater. We understand there are some constraints on our freedom in order to protect innocent people.”

The executive actions will mandate background checks for all gun sales, with exemptions for collectors and gun hobbyists. The new guidelines apply to gun dealers, individuals who are “in the business of selling firearms.” The guidelines are reportedly designed to address what is known as the “gun show loophole” which allows most small dealers from keeping formal sales records.

The president said the actions are “not a plot to take away everybody’s guns,” but US Congressman Austin Scott (R-Georgia) has criticized the moves.

“President Obama’s latest executive action is another example of his personal agenda taking precedence over Constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” Scott said in a released statement. “His proposal to limit some seniors from purchasing firearms by making their Social Security records part of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System is beyond radical. As a lifetime member of the NRA long before being elected to Congress and a firm supporter of the Second Amendment, I will continue to fight against attempts in Congress to interfere with your right to keep and bear arms and will use all available options to fight his gun control agenda.”

The new guidelines aim to increase the number of staff dedicated to gun sale background checks as well as provide more funding more funding for mental health treatment, which local law enforcement officials said they welcome.

“I think the underlying issue here is mental health,” said Capt. Stryde Jones with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. “If you look at all the recent mass shootings, with probably the exception of San Bernardino, every one of those was mental health driven in some form or fashion. It’s the elephant in the room nobody wants to deal with.”

Valdosta’s police chief agreed.

“Anybody who has a documented history of mental health issues should not be carrying a firearm,” said Chief Brian Childress. “They should not be issued a permit, and they should not be allowed to carry a firearm. I think that is common sense.”

The new guidelines are likely to face legal opposition before they are fully implemented. The National Rifle Association and other organizations have vowed to fight the President’s executive orders.