Speaking Wednesday in Denver, President Obama used Colorado as an example to try to revive stalled gun legislation in Congress.
Recent national since 20 children and 6 adults were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary school in December. Polls also continue to indicate widespread support for universal background checks for gun purchases.
http://youtu.be/2qJRHU6R1WM
鈥淭here doesn鈥檛 have to be a conflict between protecting our citizens and protecting our Second Amendment rights,鈥� said the President.
Before his speech he spent about an hour in private discussions with law enforcement officials, Governor John Hickenlooper, families of shooting victims and sportsmen. During his remakrs Obama also took note of the gun legislation that was .
In addition to passing universal background checks, Colorado lawmakers also approved a controversial bill limiting high capacity magazines to 15 rounds. Obama says Colorado is a western state that cherishes the second amendment and gun ownership. But he also thinks Colorado, home to two of the country鈥檚 worst mass shootings can serve as a national model.
鈥�90% of the American people agree, so there鈥檚 no reason we can鈥檛 do this, unless politics is getting in the way,鈥� said the President. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no reason we can鈥檛 do this.鈥�
While the polls agree with the President on that count, he was greeted upon his arrival by a small group of protesters. Colorado Sheriffs have also been speaking out against Colorado鈥檚 new regulations. They held a press conference in protest of the President鈥檚 visit, where Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith described it as a 鈥榲ictory lap.鈥�
Governor Hickenlooper and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg were also the target of the Sheriff鈥檚 ire.
http://youtu.be/QJq16Ko9nkY
The U.S. Senate is expected to take up gun legislation next week and the president will continue his push for gun control laws. He鈥檚 speaking in Hartford Connecticut on Monday, near the location of the Newtown shooting.
