Obama urges lawmakers' vote on assault weapons ban

March 23, 2013 @ 8:51 am

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - President Barack Obama says each of his proposed steps to reduce gun violence should get a vote in Congress _ even an assault weapons ban that both parties agree stands little chance of passing.

Senate Democrats dropped the ban from the bill they plan to debate next month out of concern it could sink the whole package. Still, Obama says he's pushing for it.

In his weekly radio and Internet address released Saturday, Obama says the U.S. has changed in the three months since the December school shooting in Newtown, Conn., left 20 first graders and six educators dead. He says Americans support the ban, plus limits on high-capacity ammunition magazines, school security funding and a crackdown on gun trafficking.

"Today there is still genuine disagreement among well-meaning people about what steps we should take to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in this country. But you, the American people, have spoken," Obama said.

The White House said Saturday that Obama will make additional trips outside Washington to rally support for the measures, including the assault weapons ban. The White House also said that before Obama left for Israel earlier this week, his push for gun control was among the issues he raised with lawmakers from both parties as he embarked on a concerted effort to reach out to Congress.

In the Republican address, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah says the Senate Democrats' budget raises taxes by $1.5 trillion without doing anything to save entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. He says Republicans want a balanced budget that lives up to the nation's moral obligation to act in the best interest of future generations.

"Republicans recognize that keeping dollars, decisions, priorities and power in the hands of the people is what has made America the greatest civilization the world has ever known," Lee says. "Now is the time to return to that model."

___

Online:

Obama address: http://www.whitehouse.gov

Republican address: http://www.youtube.com/gopweeklyaddress


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (32)


  • Add A Comment

  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Yureka!
    January 27, 2013 8:28 am
    So who are these urban people who are irresponsible with guns and need to give them up? What do they look like? Who did they vote for? Uh Oh!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    Fanning the flames of the local suck up media.
    January 28, 2013 3:40 am
    While in his own local home town, they are killing each other right and left daily, at a record rate. Ahhhh who cares about that ???? Trying to get to the means to the end. (AGENDA) Nice legacy left behind in his home town. He is on record pace for a great legacy in or nation. Record setter. (Fast and furious to the cliff record, Crisis management at its best) Dont want to solve the problem, That would be accountable. NOPE
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    As of Jan. 21, 2013
    January 28, 2013 8:47 am
    Chicago has had 31 Gun Related Homicides and 109 people shot. It's more by now. Big surprise huh? Guess all those gun laws just aren't working. Must need MORE gun laws? What a FRACKING JOKE!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @cldwtrsrf....
    March 23, 2013 10:37 am
    Gee - I guess when you want to whine about bad laws, you don't care about facts, you just want to whine. I guess the fact that there are WAY more guns already available within the city BEFORE the gun laws went into place don't matter. I'll also bet the fact that because the areas around the city don't have tight gun laws and criminals can so easily go outside the strict gun law areas and pick up whatever they want and walk right back into the city doesn't matter to you either.... It's too bad actual facts and details don't matter to you. btw - I'm a gun owner and I don't believe in draconian anti-gun laws, but I do believe in honesty and actual facts, not one sided facts twisted into something they aren't.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ohyea53 wrote...
    I know it is Fox but it is from a dad who lost his son.
    January 28, 2013 10:39 am
    http://video.foxnews.com/v/2124999428001/
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    We?
    January 28, 2013 6:57 pm
    Now you are telling us you are a cop? B.S! No L.E. person would post such garbage.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Rumpranger
    January 28, 2013 6:58 pm
    Yureka? republican stupidity knows no bounds.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • twistedsteel wrote...
    What a Joke!
    February 2, 2013 8:40 am
    This photo op will help Obama as much as Dukakis benefited from the infamous tank photo op. It also appears as if the shotgun Obama is using has a (GASP!) extended magazine tube!! Thus making it a "high capacity" weapon. What a hypocrite!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Not an extended magazine.
    February 2, 2013 8:50 am
    That shotgun is a very expensive over/under. 2 barrels, two shots. The vapor directed up is from the ported barrels, helping to reduce recoil. Can't make out the make/model from the photo, but guns of that type with engraving tend to start around 2 grand for a basic model, and as much 10-20 grand for custom engraved, super sweet hand made guns. Accuse him of elitism for choosing to shoot a gun no-one from his voting base could afford to shoot if you must, but it is a sporting arm 100%.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    so
    February 2, 2013 8:40 am
    what
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    A the use of progaganda bya left wing despot.
    February 2, 2013 10:28 am
    Kim Jung Il, Stalin, Lenin, Castro...you have learned well, Comrade Owebama.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • undecided wrote...
    Puleeese....
    February 2, 2013 11:00 am
    This is so sad. It appears to me as if he's trying to placate gun owners and appears to be one of "them". "Yeah, I'm just a regular guy like you out shooting. I like guns too." Clearly he's not. Phoney he is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Phoney and liar...
    February 2, 2013 1:27 pm
    oh, and a hypocrite too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    Photo op
    February 2, 2013 1:38 pm
    Who shoots clay pigeons horizontally? Oh yeah, those who do this only for a photographer. By the way Barry, deeper in the shoulder next time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }