(CBS News) Two days after the mass shooting in Aurora, Colo., took the lives of 12 people, the debate over gun control returned from dormancy Sunday.

The issue has gone virtually undiscussed in this year's presidential election and has not been much of a part of the national conversation since former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot in January 2011.

"My thoughts are these -- pure and simple -- weapons of war don't belong on the streets. This is a powerful weapon. He had a hundred round drum," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said on "Fox News Sunday."

"I think -- you know, we've got to sit down and really come to grips with what is sold to the average citizen in America," Feinstein added. "I have no problem with people being licensed and buying a firearm. But these are weapons that you are only going to be using to kill people in close combat."

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., however, said that "we need to look at everything" but was skeptical that more gun control is necessary.

"I think that the strongest Second Amendment rights people would be glad to have a conversation, but to somehow leap to the conclusion that this was somehow caused by the fact that we don't have more gun control legislation, I don't think, has been proved," he said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Meantime, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, added that even if there were stricter gun laws on the books, it might not have mattered in this case; suspect James Holmes seemed determined to commit the crime, calling him "diabolical".

"I mean, if he couldn't have gotten access to the guns, what kind of bomb would he have manufactured," Hickenlooper said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Politicians discussed the issue this morning after 12 people were killed and an additional 58 people were injured at a screening of Batman's "The Dark Knight" in Aurora, Colo. early Friday morning.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an advocate of stricter gun laws, said President Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney need to lead the discussion on guns.

"The two people, President Obama and Governor Romney, talking in broad things about they want to make the world a better place, ok, tell us how," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." e

On the same program, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., whose husband was killed in a 1993 shooting spree and is a proponent of the assault weapons ban, said there is one element that is consistent in mass murders at Virginia Tech, Columbine and Fort Hood. "They had a gun with large magazines," she said.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat who represents the Aurora, Colo., district where the shooting took place, said he will work with McCarthy to bring debate into Congress.

"[S]hould we reinstate the assault weapons ban? I think we should, and I think that's where it starts," Perlmutter said on "Face the Nation."

McCarthy said voiced pessimism at Congress passing gun control legislation. She said the gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, has too strong a grip on Congress.

"But the thing of it is, as a politician, a lot of politicians know it's the right thing to try to fight for something to save lives. They don't have the spine anymore. They pander to who's giving them money," she said.

(CBS News) President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner put politics on the back burner during their weekly addresses Saturday, instead taking the opportunity to mourn the victims of Friday's shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo.

"Even as we come to learn how this happened and who's responsible, we may never understand what leads anyone to terrorize their fellow human beings," Mr. Obama said.

"Such evil is senseless - beyond reason. But while we will never know fully what causes someone to take the life of another, we do know what makes that life worth living."

"[I]f there's anything to take away from this tragedy, it's a reminder that life is fragile. Our time here is limited and it is precious," he continued. "And what matters in the end are not the small and trivial things which often consume our lives."

In his remarks, Boehner said he was originally planning to talk about the economy but "life, they say, is what happens when you're busy making other plans."

"I know that when confronted with evil we cannot comprehend, Americans pull together and embrace our national family more tightly," he said.

"We join President Obama in sending condolences and prayers to the loved ones of those who were killed and wounded," Boehner added.

"And we all say 'thank God' for the police, the first responders, the doctors, and the nurses whose swift and heroic efforts saved lives."

Updated at 5:11 p.m. ET

(CBS News) In response to the Colorado mass shooting in which at least 12 people were killed and dozens injured, President Obama on Friday morning cut short his planned campaign stops in Florida and chose instead to lead a moment of silence for the victims.

"There are going to be other days for politics," Mr. Obama said in Ft. Myers, Florida. "This, I think, is a day for prayer and reflection."

The president thanked the gathered crowd and told them he was grateful for their support.

"I was looking forward to having a fun conversation with you about some really important matters we face as a country... the differences between myself and my opponent in this election," he said. "But this morning we woke up to news of a tragedy that reminds us of all the ways we are united as one American family."

At around 12:30 a.m. Friday morning, a gas mask-wearing gunman opened fire at the Century 16 theaters in Aurora, Colorado, where the latest Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" was playing. The suspected gunman, identified as 24-year-old James Holmes, is in custody.

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Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering from wounds sustained during a January 2011 shooting spree in her Arizona district, was "horrified" to hear about the mass shootings in Aurora, Colorado overnight, according to a Tweet from her husband, Mark Kelly.

"Gabby and I were horrified to hear of the tragedy in Colorado last night," Kelly wrote. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."

Giffords resigned from Congress in January to focus on her recovery.

(CBS News) In a radio interview Friday morning, Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas associated the Colorado mass shooting that's left at least 12 people dead to "attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs."

As the Huffington Post first reported, the conservative congressman was asked about the shooting during a radio interview on "Istook Live!", a show produced by the conservative group the Heritage Foundation.

Host Ernest Istook asked Gohmert, "What is your experience with the way that we have too many twisted minds in our society?"

Gohmert responded, "Some of us happen to believe that when our founders talked about guarding our virtue and freedom, that that was important. Whether it's John Adams saying our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people... Ben Franklin, only a virtuous people are capable of freedom, as nations become corrupt and vicious they have more need of masters... We have been at war with the very pillars, the very foundation of this country."

(In an interview with Bob Schieffer for "Face the Nation," NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg called Gohmert's comments "nonsensical.")

The congressman continued, "And what really gets me as a Christian is to see the ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs and then some senseless crazy act of a derelict takes place."

Gohmert lamented that civic organizations like schools have discouraged religious discussions. "What are we doing with God? We told him we don't want him around," he said. "I kind of like his protective hand being present."

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Updated 10:46 a.m. ET

(CBS News) Both President Obama and Mitt Romney will take a break from politics Friday and will address the Colorado movie theater shooting at their campaign events.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, "The President will address the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado in shortened remarks" at his Ft Myers, Fla., event Friday morning.

Mr. Obama was also scheduled to hold a campaign event in Winter Park, Fla., later on Friday. The campaign told CBS News that event has been canceled.

Both First Lady Michelle Obama's and Ann Romney's scheduled events have been canceled.

Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in an email that the Republican candidate will address the shooting at his campaign event in Bow, N.H., though the campaign adds his event will not be a "typical campaign event" and he'll just be addressing the tragedy.

Meantime, the Obama campaign told CBS News that they have asked Colorado TV stations to stop running ads attacking Romney "for the time being." The campaign adds, "It takes time for stations to be able to do this, but we are making every effort."

The Romney campaign also said in an email that they're "pulling all ads in CO until further notice."

Bloomberg calls on Obama, Romney to talk gun control

Earlier Friday morning, President Obama made the following statement on the Colorado movie theater shooting:

"Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my Administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded. As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come."

And Mitt Romney made the following statement on Friday morning's shooting:

"Ann and I are deeply saddened by the news of the senseless violence that took the lives of 15 people in Colorado and injured dozens more. We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief.  We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice."

Gov. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., released this statement:

"This is not only an act of extreme violence, it is also an act of depravity. It is beyond the power of words to fully express our sorrow this morning. Our prayers and condolences go first to the families of those killed, and we share the grief of everyone affected by this senseless event. We appreciate the swift work by local, state and federal law enforcement. Coloradans have a remarkable ability to support one another in times of crisis. This one of those times."

Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., released this statement:

"I am deeply saddened and outraged by these senseless and tragic shootings," Udall said. "My thoughts go out to the families and friends of those killed, and I am praying for a speedy recovery for those who were wounded. My staff and I are in close contact with officials on the ground and will offer any federal resources needed to investigate this terrible crime and bring those responsible to justice."

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said in a statement:

"This was horrible, senseless and abhorrent act. My family and I are shocked and deeply saddened this morning and our hearts are with the victims and their families. My staff and I are in contact with and offering our support to law enforcement and medical officials as they respond to the shooting."

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., whose district includes Aurora, the site of the shooting, released this statement:

"My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims and their families in this senseless act of violence. I've lived in Aurora almost all of my life and nothing like this has ever happened here. This was the type of violence that I would have expected when I served in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps but never here at home."

Updated 10:30 a.m. ET

(CBS News) Both President Obama and Mitt Romney are expected to take a break from politics Friday and will address the Colorado shooting at their campaign events.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, "The President will address the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado in shortened remarks" at his Ft Myers, Fla., event Friday morning.

Mr. Obama was also scheduled to hold a campaign event in Winter Park, Fla., later on Friday. The campaign told CBS News that event has been canceled.

First Lady Michelle Obama was scheduled to hold two campaign events in Virginia on Friday. Those also have been canceled.

The Obama campaign told CBS News that they have asked Colorado TV stations to stop running ads attacking Romney "for the time being." The campaign adds, "It takes time for stations to be able to do this, but we are making every effort."

Meantime, Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in an email that the Republican candidate will address the shooting at his campaign event in Bow, N.H., though the campaign adds his event will not be a "typical campaign event" and he'll just be addressing the tragedy.

Earlier, Mr. Obama and Romney both said they were "saddened" by the shooting.

(CBS News) WILLIAMSBURG, VA -- To Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, the partisan rancor in Washington is reminiscent of an elementary school classroom.

"It reminds me of a little bit of...the old cartoons of taking the pigtails of the little girl who's ahead of you in second grade and putting it in the ink well," Hickenlooper said. "And the throwing spitballs and the teasing. They just can't resist poking the other person across the aisle and causing a little bit of a ruckus."

Indeed, at the annual National Governor's Association meeting this weekend, collective sniping over the gridlock in D.C. was a rare point of bipartisan consensus. The paralysis in the nation's capital, after all, has tangible ramifications for the state's executives, the governors said.

Questions loom over the Medicaid expansion that the Supreme Court made optional with its ruling last month, with many governors saying they need more clarity from the federal government before they can move forward--unlikely, given that the fate of the health care law may hang in the balance of the November elections. Even more pressing, the so-called "fiscal cliff" threatens to bust state budgets around the country when automatic tax hikes and spending cuts go into effect at the start of the year if federal lawmakers fail to forge a compromise.

"The biggest issue I have with the federal government is that they don't act," said Republican Gov. Dave Heineman of Nebraska at the opening National Governor's Association press conference. "What I'd prefer is for president and Congress to make some tough decisions and then maybe go on vacation for a couple of years."

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(CBS News) Two members of Congress, one Republican and one Democrat, expressed concern over the news that the Food and Drug Administration monitored the communication of five scientists after they raised concerns about medical imaging devices.

The surveillance campaign, according to The New York Times, gathered more than 80,000 pages of documents of communication between five scientists and journalists, members of Congress, lawyers and President Obama.

"The extent to which the FDA spied on employees' personal email is shocking. The more we learn, the more disturbing it is," Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said. "The FDA's actions raise serious implications for the right of any agency employee to make protected disclosures about waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, or public safety to Congress or anyone else."

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said: "It is absolutely unacceptable for the FDA to be spying on employees who reach out to members of Congress to expose abuses or wrongdoing in government agencies. The FDA should be focused on resolving these complaints rather than retaliating against its employees."

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(CBS/AP) An Obama campaign staffer died Friday after collapsing at the campaign's Chicago headquarters, campaign officials said.

Alex Okrent, 29, worked in the campaign's paid media department, which handles advertising.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that paramedics treated Okrent at the campaign headquarters and then took him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Obama's campaign said the president called Okrent's parents to offer his condolences.

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(CBS News) Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., is currently being treated for a "mood disorder", his doctor's office said Thursday.

"The Congressman is receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for a mood disorder," a statement from his physician said. "He is responding positively to treatment and is expected to make a full recovery."

The office would not give any further information, including his doctor's name, citing privacy. 

"The name of the attending physician and treatment center will not be disclosed in order to protect his continuing privacy," the statement read.

The news comes after a growing number of his Democratic colleagues have called for the congressman to be more forthcoming about his recent weeks-long medical leave from Congress.

"The public relationship that he has as a member of Congress, I think does not shield him," Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said.

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(CBS News) SILVER SPRING, Md. - Jorge Acuna's lifelong dream of becoming a neurosurgeon was always clear, but somehow he knew spending six days in a federal detention center wasn't the way to the operating table.

The 19-year-old Montgomery College student and his parents were detained in March, after living illegally in America for more than a decade. As a result of the family's undocumented status, deportation was imminent.

"Those first five nights we ended up being in a maximum security cell for some reason," Acuna told CBS. "I guess that was the worst part of it, because not only did we feel like we were criminals, we felt like the highest end criminals. We never committed any crime."

Uncertain about his future, Acuna feared his education may be lost.

"I was taking 18 credits and all of a sudden, one day I'm in jail," Acuna said. "I'm sitting here in jail, I'm worried about my tests and at one point, I realized, why am I even thinking about this?"

With fervent support from the surrounding community and the help of several prominent politicians, immigration officials granted the Acuna family a one year reprieve, with the understanding that deportation remained a possibility in 2013.

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(CBS News) Colleagues are publicly calling for Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., to provide more details into an illness that has forced inpatient treatment and a leave of absence from Congress.

Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters Tuesday that he hopes Jackson "is able to return in a short time," but says that elected officials have a duty to be open with voters.

"I think that we all have a responsibility to report to our constituents," Hoyer said.

Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., echoed similar statements, noting that he has no inside information on Jackson's ailment or condition.

"As a public official, though, there reaches a point where you have a responsibility to tell people what you're facing and how things are going," WBBM newsradio in Chicago reported. "If there is some medical necessity for him not saying more at this moment, then I will defer to that, but he will soon have to make a report on what he's struggling with - the physical condition he's struggling with," Durbin said.

Jackson has been on leave since June 10, and his office said last week that he is being treated for "physical and emotional ailments" and that his condition is "more serious" than thought, failing to indicate when Jackson might return to work.

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(CBS News) Renae Chapman, the wife of the first American servicemember to be killed in the Afghanistan War, said the ten years since his death has been "really tough."

Chapman said she wishes "she could say it gets better, but it doesn't."

Her husband, Sergeant First Class Nathan Ross Chapman was a member of the special forces and was killed in Afghanistan less than three months after the official start of the war. His death is remembered as the 2000th American servicemember was killed Wednesday in the war that has been America's longest, lasting more than ten years.

Chapman began to cry as she recounted her late husband, with whom she has two children now aged 12 and 13.

"The hardest part is losing how funny he was. That's really the biggest part," Chapman said through tears.

"I miss him more. It's worse [now]. Much, much worse," Chapman said.

Nearly as long as Chapman, who attended President George W. Bush's State of the Union speech as a guest of First Lady Laura Bush in 2002, has been reeling from the loss of her husband, she has been facing another battle: the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

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