[CVT] ORLANDO, Fla. -- Embracing grieving Orlando families and appealing anew for national action, President Barack Obama claimed a threat to all Americans' security Thursday as a strong reason to tighten U.S. gun laws.
Counterterror campaigns overseas, he declared, can never prevent all "lone wolf" attacks like the one that killed 49 people in Orlando.
Speaking at a makeshift memorial to the victims, Obama said the massacre at a gay nightclub was evidence that "different steps" are needed to limit the damage a "deranged" person set on committing violence can do. He cheered on Democrats' push for new gun control measures, including a new ban on assault weapons and stricter background checks.
Although he showed little hope the measures would find much support among most opponents, Obama seemed to be aiming for other lawmakers, perhaps Republican hawks eager to get behind counterterror campaigns but steadfastly opposed to gun restrictions. |