In what appeared to be the White House's efforts in urging lawmakers to draft tighter gun control legislation, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday addressed the rise in high-profile gun-related incidents in the country and declared, "This effort is not over."
Businessweek said Obama is referring to the gun control measures his administration has been pushing but failed to garner enough support as it reached the US Senate. Flanked by former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who herself is a victim of gun-related violence when she suffered an almost-crippling gunshot injury on the head, and parents of Newtown victims in the Rose Garden, Obama was somber in his admission that progress for more gun control measures had been slow.
Referring to the influence of the National Rifle Association on gun control laws, he said, "My biggest frustration so far is the fact that this society has not been willing to take some basic steps to keep guns out of the hands of people who can do just unbelievable damage. Most members of Congress - and to some degree this is bipartisan - are terrified of the NRA."
Obama blamed the NRA and rich gun manufacturers who have enough political and financial power to pressure off lawmakers if the latter decides to back on tighter gun control, Businessweek said. The president said he has always respect gun rights and the US tradition on firearms as embodied in the Second Amendment.
On the other hand, Obama believes that a concerted effort from not only the government and the lawmakers, but ordinary Americans should happen in order to support gun control measures into law to curb future violence.
Businessweek said the White House has maintained that it has not abandoned the issue on gun control. Last year alone, Obama has issued 23 executive orders relating to gun violence as an attempt to take action on the issue without requiring a vote from the US Congress.
