FEELING HER PAIN: President Obama, wearing a bracelet in remembrance of the Newtown shooting victims, yesterday embraces Nicole Hockley, whose son, Dylan (inset), was killed in the massacre. (AP)
FEELING HER PAIN: President Obama, wearing a bracelet in remembrance of the Newtown shooting victims, yesterday embraces Nicole Hockley, whose son, Dylan (inset), was killed in the massacre. (AP)
President Obama drew thunderous applause in Connecticut yesterday as he made an urgent plea to salvage gun-control legislation, calling on Americans to battle “misinformation” about an effort that has lost popularity after an initial wave of support in the wake of December’s Newtown school massacre.
“If there is even one step we can take to keep somebody from murdering dozens of innocents in the span of minutes, shouldn’t we be taking that step?” Obama shouted over cheers and an ovation at the University of Hartford.
“Now’s the time to get engaged. Now’s the time to get involved. Now’s the time to push back on fear and frustration and misinformation,” Obama said. “Now’s the time for everyone to make their voices heard from every statehouse to the corridors of Congress.”
Obama’s speech came on a day when Republican opposition to the Senate gun-control measure swelled. Thirteen Republicans sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday threatening to block the legislation from coming up for a vote — up from four.
An incensed Reid took to the Senate floor to bash the signers, led by Tea Party freshmen.
“This flies in the face of Senate tradition . . . that began in the first days of this institution,” Reid said. “Every one of these measures deserves a vote, a yes or no. No hiding. No running from an issue that has captivated America.”
Reid is searching for Republicans to get the necessary 60 votes needed to bring a bill that includes expanding background checks to private dealers and providing stiffer penalties for those who sell to prohibited gun owners to the floor this week.
Obama also lashed out at the Republicans threatening the filibuster.
“Some back in Washington are already floating the idea that they might use political stunts to prevent votes on any of these reforms,” Obama said. “They’re not just saying they’ll vote ‘no’ on ideas that almost all Americans support. They’re saying they won’t allow any votes on them at all. They’re saying your opinion doesn’t matter, and that’s not right.”
Eleven relatives of Newtown traveled to Washington on Air Force One with the president to lobby Congress members.
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) continued negotiations yesterday over a background-check compromise. The bill written by Sen. Charles Schumer calls for all gun buyers to go through that scrutiny.
Currently, only licensed dealers must do background checks, including at gun shows. Manchin and Toomey’s talks are focused on expanding the checks to private dealers at gun shows and online sales, a Democratic aide close to the negotiations said.