Obama cites outpouring of support for tougher gun laws after school shooting: 'We hear you'

Ken Thomas / The Associated Press
December 21, 2012

Vice President Joe Biden, flanked by the President of the National Association of Police Organizations and Boston police officer, Thomas Nee, left, and President of the Police Executive Research Forum and Major Cities Chiefs Association and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, right, speaks during a meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the White House complex, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, in Washington. Biden is leading a task force that will look at ways of reducing gun violence. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says his administration has received an outpouring of support for stricter gun laws following last week's school shooting in Connecticut, telling respondents to an online petition, "We hear you."

The president said in a video released Friday that he is encouraged that many gun owners have said there are steps the nation can take to prevent more deadly shootings, "steps that both protect our rights and protect our kids."

"I will do everything in my power as president to advance these efforts, because if there's even one thing we can do as a country to protect our children, we have a responsibility to try," Obama said.

Obama held a moment of silence Friday morning at the White House marking one week since the shooting killed 20 children and six adults. The shooter also killed his mother and himself.

The National Rifle Association, the country's most powerful gun lobby, was holding a news conference on Friday to make its first substantial statement since the shooting.

The president has challenged the NRA to "do some self-reflection" and join a broad effort to reduce gun violence. The organization said Tuesday in a brief statement it would offer "meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."

In Friday's video, the president responded to a "We the People" petition on the White House website that allows the public to submit petitions. Nearly 200,000 people have urged Obama to address gun control in one petition, and petitions related to gun violence have amassed more than 400,000 signatures.

Obama has begun laying the groundwork for a push to tighten gun laws, address mental health needs and examine the glamorization of guns and violence.

Vice-President Joe Biden is leading a group of administration officials and outside advisers to offer recommendations for Congress by January. Biden's group is considering reinstating a ban on military-style assault weapons, which expired in 2004, closing loopholes that allow gun buyers to avoid background checks and restricting high-capacity magazines.

Gun-control measures have faced strong opposition in Congress for the past decade, largely because of heavy lobbying by the NRA and support for the constitutional right to bear arms, but Obama has suggested he intends to make it a "central" part of his agenda next year.

In the video, he urged the public to become involved.

"If we're going to succeed, it's going to take a sustained effort of mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, law enforcement and responsible gun owners, organizing, speaking up, calling their members of Congress as many times as it takes, standing up and saying 'enough' on behalf of all our kids," Obama said.