WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama is "actively supportive" of efforts on Capitol Hill to reinstate an assault weapons ban.
Obama has long backed the ban, but has failed to push for it throughout his first term. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., plans to introduce legislation to reinstate the ban early next year.
White House spokesman Jay Carney says Obama would also support legislation to close the gun show "loophole," which allows people to buy guns from private dealers without background checks.
The president has pledged to address gun violence in the coming weeks following Friday's deadly shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.
Obama spoke Tuesday with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat and avid hunter who is now supportive of a national discussion on preventing gun violence.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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When assault rifles are outlawed, they will become valuable, and only rich guys called "collectors" will have assault rifles! And they will lock them in a gun safe!
There is constant turnover in the ownership of these assault rifles that run as low as $120 for the Made In China versions.
Basement dwelling schmucks pawn their assault rifles so they can buy the latest video game.
The construction crew guy who lost his job pawns his assault rifle collection first (he only bought them to impress the coworkers anyway).
Criminals steal them out of cars and apartments (that Mitt, he was right about apartments) and steal them from each other and sooner or later the cops get the stolen ones.
So yes, there are a bunch of these things out there, but they constantly churn, and it would not be too long before they are not such a clear and present danger to each and every one of us, even you, guy with the handgun under your couch, your pillow and another in your glove compartment. You are very macho and everything, but even you are in danger.