Back on the trail, Romney and Obama avoid gun control issue

(CBS News) Despite calls to address the gun control issue, neither President Obama nor Mitt Romney brought the issue up as they returned to the campaign trail Monday.

Romney was asked during a CNBC interview about the issue, which became a subject of debate following last week's shooting in Aurora, Colo. Romney said he didn't believe new laws would have made a difference in last week's massacre.

"There are -- were, of course, very stringent laws which existed in Aurora, Colorado. Our challenge is not the laws, our challenge is people who, obviously, are distracted from reality and do unthinkable, unimaginable, inexplicable things," he said.

Mr. Obama, meantime, spoke to the Veterans' of Foreign Wars and attended three fundraisers in California but didn't mention the gun control issue. Also on Monday, Vice President Joe Biden spoke to a conference of the National Association of Police Officers and although some big city public officials have been vocal about gun control in the wake of the shootings, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, Biden didn't bring the issue up in his remarks.

Both Mr. Obama and Romney have had trouble with the issue politically in the past and both are likely leery of discussing it so close to the election.

In 2008, Mr. Obama was criticized by rural Pennsylvania voters when he suggested rural voters "cling to guns and religion."

For his part, Romney, was repeatedly criticized during the primary for signing an assault weapons ban when he served as Massachusetts governor.

[TimeToEvolve]

I just realized the reason that RobMe and the other Republicons don't want to talk about any ideas or plans. Because if people knew what they were, they would not have a snowball's chance in hell of even sniffing elected office.

[seabass6251]

Except in two thirds of the country's land mass.

[guyfrompa46]

If anyone has an idea on how to get rid of every single gun that's in this country then I;d lovge to hear it. Until then I would much rather take my chances with a legal weapon in my hand when Sh*t likes this happens the be without one. What you don;t realize is that is just as easy to get an illegal gun as it is to get a legal one. So don;t bi*tch unless you have an answer on how to stop it, all of it.

[SD92040]

Yep! Obama should lobby for the repeal of the second amendment! How dare those right wingers! Republicans ! Especially the NRA! Can you believe it?? The NRA exists solely to defend the second amendment to the constitution. The NERVE! Remember Democrats were always for GUN CONTROL.

Until they found out it was political suicide.

Support concealed carry laws. The best gun control is sight alignment and trigger squeeze.

[TimeToEvolve]

Regulating firearms is not the same as being against the 2nd amendment. Unless you talk to people brainwashed by the NRA, the front group for the uncaring, unfeeling gun manufacturers of America.

[TimeToEvolve]

So driving is heavily regulated and peace officers can stop you at any time and ask for license, registration and proof of insurance. Perhaps we need to start doing this kind of stuff to check firearms.

One child killed by a loaded firearm is one too many because it can be prevented. Hopefully anyone who is killed by a firearm accidentally should be able to collect big money from other gun owners like we do with cars. And the owner of the gun should be prosecuted for at least manslaughter if not murder.

[Johan_Doh]

agreed.

[Johan_Doh]

The same can be said of one child killed by a drunk driver. It could have been prevented by the individual driving. But its easier to get a drink than a gun (for the most part)

[Johan_Doh]

Romney supports the 2nd amendment. That is clear.

Why isn't Obama saying anything about gun control? His party (in general ) is for gun control. This should be a fine time for him to talk about it.

Hmmmm.....

[TimeToEvolve]

Obama's party is for common sense regulation of firearms like in real countries. The corporation front group the Republicons have neither common sense or intelligence apparently.

[Johan_Doh]

TTE...I'm an independent, so I wouldn't know. That does not address my original question. I'm for banning of assault weapons and tight regulation. There are laws on the books. We should kick up enforcement.

[TimeToEvolve]

So all you hear is this drooling, hysterical drivel about gun owner's rights. What about the rights of non-gun owners? What about the rights of the innocent people who are unarmed. Are we one sick country or what?

[Johan_Doh]

What about the rights of those who don't drink and drive, but get killed by a drunk driver?

That's why we have laws to prosecute nutjobs like this. there is a higher percentage of people who own cars and kill someone, than people who own guns and kill someone.

[matt6052]

When regular Americans begin to see their friends and family regularly gunned down at suburban movie theaters, then the country will get serious about real gun control.

[seabass6251]

Not in my lifetime. My rights are not for you or anyone else to bargain away.

[heavymedley]

Regulation essential. Consumers are not being protected from purveyors of sub standard product. Someone should be saying a prayer of thanks that this maniac was using an American made assault rifle. If he'd dug deeper and bought a more reliable import it wouldn't have jammed and more would be dead. Nevertheless, thats not the point Im making. The NRA want you to have guns. They just don't care if they work properly.

[TimeToEvolve]

Excellent points. God forbid we should stop corporations from incompetency in America to protect human beings.

[seabass6251]

And the Democrats' stand on abortion is...

Protect human beings me left ear!

Good ole' Dems...gotta love 'em.

[AOCGUY]

While not the most pressing issue, gun control is a hot button topic and Americans on both sides of the issue deserve to know where both candidates stand. Ignoring the issue is cowardice

[Kieren1]

People have the right to own guns. However, there must be gun control meaning tight registration, background checks and assault rifle bans. It is a terrorism issue and a major oversight of Homeland Security. How they can miss someone buying gas cannisters, body armour, semiautomatic weapons and 6,000 rounds is unbelievable!

[Johan_Doh]

100% agreement. Great comment

[seabass6251]

There is 100% registration of new firearms in this country.

There is 100% FBI background checks for purchasers of new firearms in this country.

Assualt weapons ban expired and won't be renewed because it is political suicide.

This was a criminal act and not one of international terrorism. Homeland Security, or Gestapo whichever you prefer, has no oversight over the BATFE or FBI and it shouldn't.