On Monday, President Obama met with lawmakers and public safety officials to elucidate the executive actions he recently issued to stem gun violence. He spoke about coordinating with state and local governments and to do everything possible to improve the issue of gun safety and to make communities safe.
Obama met with Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe, who presided over the mass shooting at a Newtown elementary school last month where a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six teachers, and also met with other police chiefs from Aurora, Colorado where 12 were killed in July, and officials from Oak Creek Wisconsin where six died in a Sikh Church.
"As we've indicated before, the only way that we're going to be able to do everything that needs to be done is with the cooperation of Congress," said Obama. "And that means passing serious laws that restrict the access and availability of assault weapons and magazine clips that aren't necessary for hunters and sportsmen and those responsible gun owners who are out there. It means that we are serious about universal background checks. It means that we take seriously issues mental health and school safety," he added.
The president emphasized that no group is more important to listen to than law enforcement officials: "And so I welcome this opportunity to work with them; to hear their views in terms of what will make the biggest difference to prevent something like Newtown or Oak Creek from happening again," Obama said.
The president thanked the police chiefs for participating.
Over the weekend, thousands of gun control advocates marched from the Capitol to the Washington Monument holding signs with names of gun violence victims and messages, like "Ban Assault Weapons Now." Washington Mayor Vincent Gray and other city officials marched with them.
The President said his administration has initiated a host of measures, including a mechanism for effective nation-wide collection of data on arms, to ensure gun safety in the country.
Parents of children killed in the Newtown school shooting called for better enforcement of gun laws and tougher penalties for violators on Monday. During the tense hearing, gun rights advocates could be heard shouting at one father whose 6-year-old was killed.
On Tuesday, the Virginia House of Delegates Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee approved a bill that would prohibit state agencies from enforcing a new gun control law.
