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| Newtown families visit Washington to press Congress to back gun control | Newtown families visit Washington to press Congress to back gun control |
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| Families of the victims of the Connecticut school shooting that left 20 young children dead in December were in Washington on Tuesday, lobbying senators to support gun restrictions. | Families of the victims of the Connecticut school shooting that left 20 young children dead in December were in Washington on Tuesday, lobbying senators to support gun restrictions. |
| President Obama ferried 11 relatives back to Washington aboard Air Force One Monday night, following a speech in Connecticut where he tried to drum up support for gun control legislation that is floundering in Congress in the face of Republican opposition. | President Obama ferried 11 relatives back to Washington aboard Air Force One Monday night, following a speech in Connecticut where he tried to drum up support for gun control legislation that is floundering in Congress in the face of Republican opposition. |
| "Nothing's going to be more important in making sure that the Congress moves forward this week than hearing from them," Obama said in his speech Monday night. His eyes teared as he described Nicole Hockley, who lost her six-year-old son, Dylan, saying how she asks him every night to come to her in her dreams so she can see him again. | "Nothing's going to be more important in making sure that the Congress moves forward this week than hearing from them," Obama said in his speech Monday night. His eyes teared as he described Nicole Hockley, who lost her six-year-old son, Dylan, saying how she asks him every night to come to her in her dreams so she can see him again. |
| "If there's even one thing we can do to prevent a father from having to bury his child, isn't that worth fighting for?" Obama asked. | "If there's even one thing we can do to prevent a father from having to bury his child, isn't that worth fighting for?" Obama asked. |
| Obama's speech was interrupted repeatedly by standing ovations from the packed gymnasium. At one point, the room erupted with chants of "We want a vote!" | Obama's speech was interrupted repeatedly by standing ovations from the packed gymnasium. At one point, the room erupted with chants of "We want a vote!" |
| Obama argued that lawmakers have an obligation to the children killed and other victims of gun violence to allow an up-or-down vote in the Senate that would only need 50 votes to pass. | Obama argued that lawmakers have an obligation to the children killed and other victims of gun violence to allow an up-or-down vote in the Senate that would only need 50 votes to pass. |
| "Some back in Washington are already floating the idea that they may use political stunts to prevent votes on any of these reforms," Obama said. | "Some back in Washington are already floating the idea that they may use political stunts to prevent votes on any of these reforms," Obama said. |
| "Think about that. They're not just saying they'll vote no on ideas that almost all Americans support. They're saying they'll do everything they can to even prevent any votes on these provisions. They're saying your opinion doesn't matter. And that's not right." | "Think about that. They're not just saying they'll vote no on ideas that almost all Americans support. They're saying they'll do everything they can to even prevent any votes on these provisions. They're saying your opinion doesn't matter. And that's not right." |
| Democrats were holding a lunchtime meeting Tuesday to assess whether Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat, had reached an acceptable compromise or had a realistic chance of getting one with Sentor Pat Toomey, a Republican. | Democrats were holding a lunchtime meeting Tuesday to assess whether Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat, had reached an acceptable compromise or had a realistic chance of getting one with Sentor Pat Toomey, a Republican. |
| Party leaders were giving Manchin until later Tuesday to complete the talks, and a decision by Democrats seemed likely in the next couple of days. | Party leaders were giving Manchin until later Tuesday to complete the talks, and a decision by Democrats seemed likely in the next couple of days. |
| An agreement between the two senators, both among the more conservative members of their parties, would boost efforts to expand background checks because it could attract bipartisan support. Abandoning those negotiations would put Democrats in a difficult position, making it hard for them to push a measure through the Senate and severely damaging Obama's gun control drive. | An agreement between the two senators, both among the more conservative members of their parties, would boost efforts to expand background checks because it could attract bipartisan support. Abandoning those negotiations would put Democrats in a difficult position, making it hard for them to push a measure through the Senate and severely damaging Obama's gun control drive. |
| The decision was coming as the Senate prepared to debate gun restrictions, an issue catapulted into the national arena by the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. | The decision was coming as the Senate prepared to debate gun restrictions, an issue catapulted into the national arena by the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. |
| Obama's proposals headlined by background checks for more gun buyers and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines have hit opposition from the nation's powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association and are struggling in Congress. Conservatives say they will use procedural tactics to try preventing the Senate from even debating firearms restrictions. | Obama's proposals headlined by background checks for more gun buyers and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines have hit opposition from the nation's powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association and are struggling in Congress. Conservatives say they will use procedural tactics to try preventing the Senate from even debating firearms restrictions. |
| The administration was continuing its efforts to pressure Republicans, with Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder making remarks Tuesday at the White House, joined by law enforcement officials. | The administration was continuing its efforts to pressure Republicans, with Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder making remarks Tuesday at the White House, joined by law enforcement officials. |
| Majority Leader Harry Reid brought gun control legislation to the Senate floor on Monday, though actual debate did not begin. He took the step after receiving a letter from 13 conservative Republican senators who said they would use delaying tactics to try to prevent lawmakers from even beginning debate on the legislation. Such a move takes 60 votes to overcome, a difficult hurdle in the 100-member chamber. | Majority Leader Harry Reid brought gun control legislation to the Senate floor on Monday, though actual debate did not begin. He took the step after receiving a letter from 13 conservative Republican senators who said they would use delaying tactics to try to prevent lawmakers from even beginning debate on the legislation. Such a move takes 60 votes to overcome, a difficult hurdle in the 100-member chamber. |
| Further underscoring the tough road ahead for the Obama-backed legislation, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he would join the effort to block debate on the legislation if Reid tries to bring the measure to the floor. | Further underscoring the tough road ahead for the Obama-backed legislation, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he would join the effort to block debate on the legislation if Reid tries to bring the measure to the floor. |
| There are 53 Senate Democrats and two independents who generally vote with them, meaning Republican support ultimately will be needed to reach 60 votes to move ahead. | There are 53 Senate Democrats and two independents who generally vote with them, meaning Republican support ultimately will be needed to reach 60 votes to move ahead. |
| The conservative senators said the Democratic measure would violate the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which guarantees the right to bear arms, citing "history's lesson that government cannot be in all places at all times, and history's warning about the oppression of a government that tries." | The conservative senators said the Democratic measure would violate the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which guarantees the right to bear arms, citing "history's lesson that government cannot be in all places at all times, and history's warning about the oppression of a government that tries." |
| "Shame on them," responded Reid. "The least Republicans owe the parents of those 20 babies murdered at Sandy Hook is a thoughtful debate about whether stronger laws could have saved their little girls and boys." | "Shame on them," responded Reid. "The least Republicans owe the parents of those 20 babies murdered at Sandy Hook is a thoughtful debate about whether stronger laws could have saved their little girls and boys." |
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