Obama: 'We Don't Have to Agree' on Guns

President Obama presses his gun controls in Minnesota
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 4, 2013 3:03 PM CST
Obama: 'We Don't Have to Agree' on Guns
President Barack Obama is applauded prior to speaking about his gun violence proposals, Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at the Minneapolis Police Department's Special Operations Center in Minneapolis.   (Jim Mone)

With his gun proposals dividing Congress, President Barack Obama conceded today the challenges he faces in winning support for measures ranging from criminal checks on gun buyers to an assault weapons ban. But, he declared: "We don't have to agree on everything to agree it's time to do something." Speaking at the Minneapolis Police Department's Special Operations Center in Minneapolis, Minn., Obama argued that there's bipartisan support for universal background checks and for gun trafficking laws. But, acknowledging the political challenges he faces, he would say only that the assault weapons ban deserves a vote in Congress.

"Changing the status quo is never easy," Obama said. "This will be no exception. The only way we can reduce gun violence in this county is if the American people decide it's important, if you decide it's important—parents and teachers, police officers and pastors, hunters and sportsmen, Americans of every background stand up and say, 'This time, it's got to be different.'" Before his remarks, Obama held a roundtable discussion at the Minneapolis Police Department Special Operations Center, speaking with law enforcement and community leaders. Ahead of the trip, the White House released a photo of the president skeet shooting at Camp David, the presidential retreat. Click for more. (More gun control stories.)

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