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| Newtown citizens welcome Obama's plan for stricter gun control measures | Newtown citizens welcome Obama's plan for stricter gun control measures |
| (25 days later) | |
| Newtown is a very different place from a month ago. In the days following the mass shooting here satellite trucks lined the streets, while the limited number of cafes and restaurants were packed full of reporters on laptops and cell phones. | Newtown is a very different place from a month ago. In the days following the mass shooting here satellite trucks lined the streets, while the limited number of cafes and restaurants were packed full of reporters on laptops and cell phones. |
| As Barack Obama outlined his gun control proposals at the White House on Wednesday, it was much quieter, but the signs of the tragedy remain. Opposite the St Rose of Lima church, a memorial tent set up immediately after the 14 December shooting is still vibrant, filled with teddy bears, cards and banners of support from around the country. | As Barack Obama outlined his gun control proposals at the White House on Wednesday, it was much quieter, but the signs of the tragedy remain. Opposite the St Rose of Lima church, a memorial tent set up immediately after the 14 December shooting is still vibrant, filled with teddy bears, cards and banners of support from around the country. |
| A large white banner has been draped across a bridge on a road leading towards Sandy Hook elementary school. "We're with you Newtown," it reads. "From your friends in Tucson, Arizona." | A large white banner has been draped across a bridge on a road leading towards Sandy Hook elementary school. "We're with you Newtown," it reads. "From your friends in Tucson, Arizona." |
| At the Blue Colony Diner in Newtown Obama's gun control proposals were welcomed by some. "Fantastic," said Richard Marotto, 40, who was with his daughter Julia. She was a first-grader at Sandy Hook elementary who had the day off on Wednesday because of snow. Marotto said many of Julia's classmates died on 14 December. | At the Blue Colony Diner in Newtown Obama's gun control proposals were welcomed by some. "Fantastic," said Richard Marotto, 40, who was with his daughter Julia. She was a first-grader at Sandy Hook elementary who had the day off on Wednesday because of snow. Marotto said many of Julia's classmates died on 14 December. |
| "There's no need for an assault weapon in the hands of the public," Marotto said. "Assault weapon last time I checked means bad; assault means bad." | "There's no need for an assault weapon in the hands of the public," Marotto said. "Assault weapon last time I checked means bad; assault means bad." |
| Of universal background checks, Marotto said they should "absolutely" be introduced. "And the people that own these guns should want that too. It's making them look bad. | Of universal background checks, Marotto said they should "absolutely" be introduced. "And the people that own these guns should want that too. It's making them look bad. |
| "I can't understand why they can't have a compromise. Any time there's a gun tragedy and they want to do a specific gun ban, these crazy people think they want to take all their guns away. Then they start citing the second amendment. Well the second amendment has well-regulated written into it and its not well-regulated right now." | "I can't understand why they can't have a compromise. Any time there's a gun tragedy and they want to do a specific gun ban, these crazy people think they want to take all their guns away. Then they start citing the second amendment. Well the second amendment has well-regulated written into it and its not well-regulated right now." |
| Roy Hallquist, 83, was eating soup with his wife Betty, 81. "Those things I can handle," he said of the proposed ban on assault weapons and universal background checks "I was in the army, I fired weapons that were similar to that. I think they're for war, not for the average citizen." | Roy Hallquist, 83, was eating soup with his wife Betty, 81. "Those things I can handle," he said of the proposed ban on assault weapons and universal background checks "I was in the army, I fired weapons that were similar to that. I think they're for war, not for the average citizen." |
| Hallquist, who owns a rifle and two pistols, did have a word of caution however, about this step towards stricter gun control. "Once they get started they could keep taking privileges away. More and more." | Hallquist, who owns a rifle and two pistols, did have a word of caution however, about this step towards stricter gun control. "Once they get started they could keep taking privileges away. More and more." |
| Brianna Carey, 19, was sat at a booth behind Hallquist. "I completely agree with [Obama]," she said. "I understand people wanting to own guns for hunting or sport but I don't see why people need to have weapons that do that much damage. I respect the second amendment but when that was written they couldn't even understand that we would have weapons like today." | Brianna Carey, 19, was sat at a booth behind Hallquist. "I completely agree with [Obama]," she said. "I understand people wanting to own guns for hunting or sport but I don't see why people need to have weapons that do that much damage. I respect the second amendment but when that was written they couldn't even understand that we would have weapons like today." |
| Carey, a college student, has lived in Newtown her whole life. She said the prospect of stricter gun control laws was bittersweet. "I'm glad that it's finally happening but it's heartbreaking that this had to happen for changes to be made." | Carey, a college student, has lived in Newtown her whole life. She said the prospect of stricter gun control laws was bittersweet. "I'm glad that it's finally happening but it's heartbreaking that this had to happen for changes to be made." |
| At the Starbucks cafe next to St Rose of Lima church, a trickle of customers filed in and out. Staff seemed to know some of them by name. "I am a woman the same age as Mrs Lanza, the mother of Adam, and I own a few guns for protection," said Michele Bronson, 52. | At the Starbucks cafe next to St Rose of Lima church, a trickle of customers filed in and out. Staff seemed to know some of them by name. "I am a woman the same age as Mrs Lanza, the mother of Adam, and I own a few guns for protection," said Michele Bronson, 52. |
| "I think it's OK to own guns for protection, but not crazy military assault weapons. That's out of control. And I think [Obama] should have more severe background checks for people that are applying for gun permits, serious background checks, to the point of finger-printing." | "I think it's OK to own guns for protection, but not crazy military assault weapons. That's out of control. And I think [Obama] should have more severe background checks for people that are applying for gun permits, serious background checks, to the point of finger-printing." |
| Bronson, who lives and works in Sandy Hook, said she would support closing of loopholes which currently allow people to buy firearms without background checks at gun shows or through private sales in some states. Bronson said she and her partner both owned pistols. Asked about the NRA's vocal opposition to any change in gun ownership laws, she said "that's not right". | Bronson, who lives and works in Sandy Hook, said she would support closing of loopholes which currently allow people to buy firearms without background checks at gun shows or through private sales in some states. Bronson said she and her partner both owned pistols. Asked about the NRA's vocal opposition to any change in gun ownership laws, she said "that's not right". |
| "That needs to change. That's serious. There's no reason that people have to carry assault rifles." | "That needs to change. That's serious. There's no reason that people have to carry assault rifles." |
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