The White House sought to build support for President Barack Obama’s executive actions on guns one day before he participates in a nationally televised town hall on gun issues.
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“This is not a proposal to solve every problem”, Obama said. “If you listen to the rhetoric, it is so over-the-top, it is so overheated”. The town hall will be broadcast live but is not open to the public. When asked whether House leaders planned to take legal action, House Speaker Paul Ryan said “we’re looking at all of our options”.
Among the common-sense measures proposed by the president are closing the so-called “gun show loophole”, which allows the sale of firearms without a background check, adding 230 new FBI examiners to process background checks, having federal agencies research smart gun technology to reduce accidental shootings, and asking Congress for $500 million for mental health care. Is any incremental change in heightening background checks a good thing – or more intrusion on gun-owner rights? Are you suggesting that the notion that we are creating a plot to take everybody’s guns away so that we can impose martial law is [not] a conspiracy?
The appearance came after Obama announced executive measures regulating the sale and purchase of weapons, bypassing Congress.
The event at George Mason University was organized by CNN and moderated by Anderson Cooper.
The NRA hit back at Obama’s “emotional, condescending lecture”.
The topic? Guns – specifically, the administration’s new executive orders on gun control.
The president quickly emphasized that he has “respect” for people who want a gun for hunting and sportsmanship, but it “makes sense to keep guns out of hands of people who would do others harm”.
“If anything we’re speeding up the access to it for people who are legally entitled to get a gun”, Biden told Roanoke station WDBJ, which lost two employees to a shooting while they worked on the air past year.
“How are we going to get them to follow the laws?” In that case, funding would run into opposition from congressional Republicans. “I’m happy to meet with them”. “Every time they say that, it works”.
NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said ahead of the event that the group saw “no reason to participate in a public relations spectacle orchestrated by the White House”.
The NRA and Obama have been bitter enemies on the issue of new gun regulations – each accusing the other of engaging in politics instead of working to find solutions to end gun violence. “But, you know, ultimately, that’s clearly what he’s up to”. “That’s bait!” he said.
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“I support him. The partisan disagreement was getting ridiculous”. At a town hall event hosted by CNN that night, he explained why. While much of the business was related to gift-giving, the political climate also was a factor, gun store owners say.
