Referring to potential protesters, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said no one should fear Mr Obama’s visit.
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Hunting is popular in Douglas County, and so are guns.
“It viscerally offended me that he uses something like this to pursue his own ulterior motives – destroying this country, undermining America”, said the 62-year-old, who said he bought his first gun when he was 16 with proceeds from his paper route.
He made the visit to offer support and comfort to the families and victims, but walked right into a controversy he started.
“He’s not wanted here”.
The shooting at Umpqua Community College last week left 10 dead – including the suspected shooter – and seven injured.
JOHN BLACKSTONE (voice-over): The protesters gathered at the Roseburg airport carried both signs and guns – a potential nightmare for the Secret Service.
The action would reportedly not apply to people who occasionally sell, exchange, or purchase guns for their personal collection or anyone who sells off all or parts of their personal firearm collection.
Nine other people were wounded.
“If we don’t support, we have one coming today that is not”, added Loma Wharton of Roseburg.
Mr. Obama sought to steer clear of the debate over U.S. gun laws.
Mr. Obama met privately for about an hour with the families at a local high school.
A few families are divided, even those directly affected by the rampage.
“On principle, I find that I am in disagreement with his policies on gun control, and therefore, we will not be attending the visit”, Stacy Bolan, whose daughter was shot and survived the shooting, told Fox News Channel.
But Ana Boylan told The Associated Press she would indeed meet Obama if she has a chance to do so in private.
“But I’m not sure if that’s the case”, said the 64-year-old.
University president Rita Hartung Cheng said she was “shocked and deeply saddened”.
Obama flew by helicopter to Roseburg for a two-hour visit that brought an unusual crush of security to this longtime logging town.
Roseburg leaders also sought to reassure Obama that he is welcome, saying in a statement earlier in the week they would “extend him every courtesy”. In spite of the killings here, that remains an unpopular position in this part of Oregon.
Mike Johnson, 48, was one of many in attendance who believes the answer to the problem of school shootings is to have more guns, not less.
But regardless of agenda, today was about families and the victims. His official schedule shows no indication that he will appear in public and talk about gun control, as RFK did 47 years ago.
“He should stay away”, Gary Shambling, 66, of Winston, whose 1935 Harvester worldwide pickup was parked Friday morning along the side of Aviation Drive, told his local newspaper, the Register-Guard.
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Portland news station KGW reporter, Nina Mehlaf, shared photos from the anti-Obama rally Friday showing protesters with signs that said “Go back to Kenya!” and “Christian Lives Matter”.
