On Friday morning the autumn sun was already heating up the asphalt in front of the Roseburg Regional Airport as dozens of sign-carrying demonstrators took their places before the touchdown of Obama’s Marine One helicopter at the local airport.
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President Barack Obama brought words of comfort and sympathy to grieving families of victims of the shooting rampage in Roseburg.
Obama told reporters that the public must “come together” to prevent mass shootings, but he said “today is about the families”.
Referring to potential protesters, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said no one should fear Mr Obama’s visit.
ERIC DIETZ: He said that when it comes right down to it, there’s a lot of different opinions in our country.
Democrat lawmakers are planning a renewed push for gun control, but many doubt whether it will have any chance in a GOP-controlled congress. Despite all the Obama administration’s fearmongering and as horrifying as any shooting is, gun violence has precipitously declined over the decades without any meaningful federal law being enacted.
Despite the tense atmosphere in Roseburg, the anti-Obama protest was peaceful, with a few of the protesters simply turning their backs as the motorcade passed by, according to WND News.
“I think he’s really here to show his support of the families and to share the sorrow that they must feel”, he said.
This week, he carried through with that intention, flying to Oregon to meet with the parents of the victims from Umpqua Community College.
During his visit to Roseburg, the president met with leaders of the community college to express his thanks and condolences.
White House officials have downplayed the president’s gun control message in the lead-up to his visit.
And at Texas Southern University in Houston, one person was killed and another injured at a campus apartment complex.
That led to a counter tweet by a man who said “What exactly are they defending?”
Hunting is popular in Douglas County, and so are guns. “The other half were negative or seemed to be protesting his calls to action to tighten the nation’s gun laws”, he wrote in the email.
Only a week after a gunman strode into a writing class and opened fire on classmates, many people in the region known as Oregon’s Bible Belt are quick to reaffirm their opposition to stricter gun laws.
NEAL KARLINSKY (voice-over): In Oregon today, the President found himself in hostile territory during a visit he said was all about consoling victims.
Many residents in the mostly conservative community were angered by the President’s comments made within hours of the 1 October shooting.
“I’ve got very strong feelings about this because when you talk to the families, you are reminded this could be happening to your child, or your mom, or your dad”, Mr. Obama said.
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KARLINSKY: Her father went so far as to say he would refuse to meet with the President.
