But Obama didn’t hold back when asked by CNN moderator Anderson Cooper about the notion that the federal government – and Obama in particular – wants to seize all firearms as a precursor to imposing martial law. The NRA boasts a membership of about 5 million Americans.
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White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest commented on the town hall Thursday, saying, “Well, just to set the record straight … it’s actually hosted by CNN”. Obama’s proposals to tighten gun controls rules may not accomplish his goal of keeping guns out of the hands of would-be criminals and those who aren’t legally allowed to buy a weapon.
Guthrie wrapped up the segment: “The President acknowledged his latest executive actions will not stop all attacks, but said the goal was to make a little progress”.
Obama sought tougher laws after the Newtown massacre, but said he was foiled by the NRA.
“I have been now President for over seven years and gun sales don’t seem to have suffered during that time. I don’t know – when would I have started on this enterprise, right?”
“Now its nearly as polarized as abortion, there’s nearly no more pro-gun Democrats, and there’s really no pro-gun control Republicans left”, said Jeremy Mayer, an associate political professor at George Mason University.
The White House has said the actions are legal, although lawful difficulties are normal.
The president ranted that the idea is obviously nothing more than a conspiracy theory.
Obama Tuesday announced new executive actions on guns, including narrowing the so-called “gun-show loophole” on background checks.
President Obama made clear last weekend that he was getting ready to announce some new reforms to gun policy, setting the stage for the latest round of a heated debate.
The President opened the event by acknowledging that he himself has never owned a gun and had little experience with them, stemming in part from his upbringing in Hawaii, where he said sport shooting is not as popular as in other parts of the country.
In the article, Obama urged Americans who agree with him on gun control measures to join him in pushing to elect new lawmakers in Congress. He said he wants to “get rid” of gun-free zones at schools and military bases. “That’s bait”, Trump told the crowd. “I don’t think the President has a lot of respect for the second amendment”, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said Thursday. Just after his 2012 re-election, Obama pushed hard for a bipartisan gun control bill that collapsed in the Senate, ending any realistic prospects for a legislative solution in the near term.
However, the NRA live-tweeted the town hall, using the hashtag for the event #GunsInAmerica.
Also in the audience is former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly.
Those who strongly favor the changes outnumber those who are strongly opposed by about a 2-to-1 margin: 43 percent say they are strongly in favor, 21 percent strongly opposed.
“I have been unspeakably victimized once already, and I refuse to let that happen again to myself or my kids”, said Corban.
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Obama will appear in a town hall-style event created to rally support for executive measures regulating the sale and purchase of weapons. Republicans have said for years that we should focus on enforcing existing laws. Obama says contrary to the claims of some GOP presidential candidates, he’s not plotting to take away everyone’s guns.
