President Obama Takes Gun Control Push to Connecticut

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2013 -- President Obama takes his gun control push to Connecticut today, speaking just 50 miles north of the site where 20 children and six educators were murdered last year.

The president's visit to the University of Hartford comes as he tries to build political momentum ahead of the Senate's consideration of new gun measures this month. This will mark the president's first trip to the state since he consoled the Newtown, Conn., community two days after the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"We can't tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change," President Obama said at a prayer vigil in Newtown in December. "If there's even one step we can take to save another child or another parent or another town from the grief that's visited Tucson and Aurora and Oak Creek and Newtown and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that, then surely we have an obligation to try.

"I'll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens, from law enforcement, to mental health professionals, to parents and educators, in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this, because what choice do we have? We can't accept events like this as routine," he said.

Following the massacre at Sandy Hook, the president kicked off the administration's push to curb gun violence, assigning Vice President Joe Biden to lead a task force to recommend new gun control proposals. Some states followed suit, trying to find ways to alleviate gun violence, and Connecticut became one of four states to pass stricter gun measures on the state level just last week.

But nearly four months after the tragedy that shocked the nation, it is unclear whether Congress will be able to pass the national gun measures it is set to consider this month.

The Senate returns from recess today and will begin consideration of a comprehensive gun package this week or the next. While the assault weapons ban is not part of the legislation, the gun measures in the bill include proposals to crack down on gun traffickingl and to require background checks on all gun purchases.

Many Republicans and some moderate Democrats have objected to a universal background check system, which they say will lead to a national registry of guns, and a group of Republican senators, led by Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Mike Lee, R-Utah; and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, have threatened to filibuster any gun legislation that would create greater restrictions for gun owners.

But The Associated Press reported Sunday that one Republican and one Democratic senator -- Pat Toomey, R-Penn., and Joe Manchin, W.V. -- are working on a deal that would extend background checks to gun shows and online sales.

A bi-partisan agreement on background checks would signal a major turning point in the debate on gun control in the Senate and could persuade some hesitant senators to agree to the plan.

The White House is planning a series of events this week to push its message to Congress and the public that lawmakers need to pass what the administration calls common sense gun measures.

On Tuesday, the vice president is scheduled to hold an event with law enforcement officials at the White House, and on Wednesday, Michelle Obama plans to travel to her hometown of Chicago to talk about curbing gun violence in local communities.