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| Obama seeks American support to pressure Congress on gun control | Obama seeks American support to pressure Congress on gun control |
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| President Barack Obama called on Americans to pressure Congress into backing his gun control proposals Saturday, as the pro-gun lobby prepared for a "high noon" protest over the proposed measures. | President Barack Obama called on Americans to pressure Congress into backing his gun control proposals Saturday, as the pro-gun lobby prepared for a "high noon" protest over the proposed measures. |
| In his weekly radio address, Obama pledged do everything in his power to push through a broad package of legislation, which includes bans on the sale of assault rifles and high-capacity clips alongside improved background checks for owners. | In his weekly radio address, Obama pledged do everything in his power to push through a broad package of legislation, which includes bans on the sale of assault rifles and high-capacity clips alongside improved background checks for owners. |
| And in a swipe at the National Rifle Association (NRA), the president accused special-interest lobbyists and gun-loving pundits of attempting to derail the debate by framing the proposals as an "all-out assault on liberty". This, he claimed, was aimed more at getting them more air time and money than contributing to the national dialogue. "Behind the scenes, they are doing everything they can to protect the status quo," he said. | And in a swipe at the National Rifle Association (NRA), the president accused special-interest lobbyists and gun-loving pundits of attempting to derail the debate by framing the proposals as an "all-out assault on liberty". This, he claimed, was aimed more at getting them more air time and money than contributing to the national dialogue. "Behind the scenes, they are doing everything they can to protect the status quo," he said. |
| To counter the power of the NRA and the influence it wields in the corridors of the Capitol, Obama called on the public to harass pro-gun members of Congress who refuse to budge on the issue of guns despite an apparent surge of support for further controls following the deaths of 20 children and six adults in a school shooting in Connecticut in December. | To counter the power of the NRA and the influence it wields in the corridors of the Capitol, Obama called on the public to harass pro-gun members of Congress who refuse to budge on the issue of guns despite an apparent surge of support for further controls following the deaths of 20 children and six adults in a school shooting in Connecticut in December. |
| "Ask them why an A-grade from the gun lobby is more important than keeping his kids safe in a first-grade classroom," Obama said Saturday. | "Ask them why an A-grade from the gun lobby is more important than keeping his kids safe in a first-grade classroom," Obama said Saturday. |
| His comments came ahead of a day of activism from those determined to keep America's notoriously lax gun controls in place. | His comments came ahead of a day of activism from those determined to keep America's notoriously lax gun controls in place. |
| Pro-gun enthusiasts plan to hold demonstrations in 49 states at "high noon" in support to what they say is their second amendment right to arm themselves with assault rifles and other guns. | Pro-gun enthusiasts plan to hold demonstrations in 49 states at "high noon" in support to what they say is their second amendment right to arm themselves with assault rifles and other guns. |
| The rallies, most of which are planned to be staged at state capitals, were being organised by Guns Across America, an organisation launched by Texas airline pilot Eric Reed. | The rallies, most of which are planned to be staged at state capitals, were being organised by Guns Across America, an organisation launched by Texas airline pilot Eric Reed. |
| As of Friday afternoon, a Facebook page for Guns Across America listed more than 18,000 people who say they plan to attend events, and Reed said Alaska was the only state with no organiser for a rally. | As of Friday afternoon, a Facebook page for Guns Across America listed more than 18,000 people who say they plan to attend events, and Reed said Alaska was the only state with no organiser for a rally. |
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