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| Obama makes direct appeal to gun owners in effort to sideline NRA | Obama makes direct appeal to gun owners in effort to sideline NRA |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| President Barack Obama took his push for tighter gun controls on the road with a Monday visit to the midwest in which he appealed directly to gun owners to back "commonsense" measures. | President Barack Obama took his push for tighter gun controls on the road with a Monday visit to the midwest in which he appealed directly to gun owners to back "commonsense" measures. |
| As part of efforts to address America's "epidemic" of gun violence, Obama reiterated in Minneapolis his demand for a ban on assault weapons and on ammunition clips of more than 10 rounds. | As part of efforts to address America's "epidemic" of gun violence, Obama reiterated in Minneapolis his demand for a ban on assault weapons and on ammunition clips of more than 10 rounds. |
| He also sought to sideline the National Rifle Association (NRA) by saying that lobbyists in Washington did not speak for the majority of gun owners in their attempts to block universal background checks. | He also sought to sideline the National Rifle Association (NRA) by saying that lobbyists in Washington did not speak for the majority of gun owners in their attempts to block universal background checks. |
| "The overwhelming majority of gun owners think it is a good idea. So if we've got lobbyists in Washington claiming to speak for gun owners saying something different, we need to go to the source and reach out to people directly," Obama said. | "The overwhelming majority of gun owners think it is a good idea. So if we've got lobbyists in Washington claiming to speak for gun owners saying something different, we need to go to the source and reach out to people directly," Obama said. |
| "We can't allow those filters to get in the way of common sense." | "We can't allow those filters to get in the way of common sense." |
| The pointed remarks suggest a growing impatience with the NRA over its failure to engage in the national debate, other than to reiterate its hardline stance. | The pointed remarks suggest a growing impatience with the NRA over its failure to engage in the national debate, other than to reiterate its hardline stance. |
| Speaking on Sunday, the NRA's executive vice-president Wayne LaPierre said the concept of universal background checks was "a fraud" that would quickly turn into a "universal registry on law-abiding people". | Speaking on Sunday, the NRA's executive vice-president Wayne LaPierre said the concept of universal background checks was "a fraud" that would quickly turn into a "universal registry on law-abiding people". |
| Obama did not mention the NRA by name during Monday's speech, instead directing his comments directly to gun owners. | Obama did not mention the NRA by name during Monday's speech, instead directing his comments directly to gun owners. |
| During the address, in front of Minneapolis police, Obama also expressed optimism that Republicans and Democrats in Washington would pass new measures to curb gun violence. | During the address, in front of Minneapolis police, Obama also expressed optimism that Republicans and Democrats in Washington would pass new measures to curb gun violence. |
| "The good news is that we are starting to see a consensus emerge about the action Congress needs to take," he said. | "The good news is that we are starting to see a consensus emerge about the action Congress needs to take," he said. |
| He continued to say that much of what he is calling for amounts to "commonsense measures supported by Democrats, Republicans and independents, and many of them are reasonable gun owners". | He continued to say that much of what he is calling for amounts to "commonsense measures supported by Democrats, Republicans and independents, and many of them are reasonable gun owners". |
| Changing the status quo would not be easy, the president conceded: "The only way we can reduce gun violence in this country is if the American people decide it is important." | Changing the status quo would not be easy, the president conceded: "The only way we can reduce gun violence in this country is if the American people decide it is important." |
| In recent weeks, the White House has tried to allay the fears of some rural Americans that the government is preparing to take away guns. Monday's address – in a state known for its hunting culture – comes after a magazine interview in which Obama chastised some anti-gun advocates for not listening enough to hunters and sports shooters. | In recent weeks, the White House has tried to allay the fears of some rural Americans that the government is preparing to take away guns. Monday's address – in a state known for its hunting culture – comes after a magazine interview in which Obama chastised some anti-gun advocates for not listening enough to hunters and sports shooters. |
| It also follows the release over the weekend of Obama firing a shotgun, backing up his earlier claim that he goes clay pigeon shooting at his Camp David retreat. | It also follows the release over the weekend of Obama firing a shotgun, backing up his earlier claim that he goes clay pigeon shooting at his Camp David retreat. |
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