Tipsheet

Brady Campaign Demands Obama, Romney Address Gun Control

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, an anti-Second Amendment group, is calling on President Obama and his competition Mitt Romney to lay out detailed plans about how they will address the issue of "gun" violence in America. The Brady Campaign is a strong advocate for the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban and uses every tragedy that involves a gun to push their agenda.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said both candidates owe voters concrete plans, and that tens of thousands of people had already signed a petition urging them to speak up. The group's president, Dan Gross, said it was shameful for political leaders to play politics when lives could be saved.

"We truly believe, as a nation, we are better than this," said Gross. "We're better than a nation where shootings like the one in Aurora, Colo., happen with such frequency."

Obama and his aides were initially tepid about calling for stricter gun regulations after 12 people were killed inside the Colorado movie theater, aware of the implications on a tight presidential race in a country where gun-rights activists have a powerful voice. But on Wednesday, Obama embraced some degree of additional restrictions, including tougher background checks.

Gross challenged Obama to move beyond rhetoric, arguing that Americans can't be satisfied with words alone.

"The president said very similar things in his last campaign," Gross said. "A speech is not a plan. An endorsement of a measure is not a solution."

Romney has maintained that changing the nation's laws won't prevent gun-related tragedies.

Brady may have thousands of signatures on a petition, but millions of Americans believe more gun control is not necessary. Support for more gun control in any form is at an all time low.