WASHINGTON - Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Wednesday vowed
swift steps by the federal government to confront gun violence as he
met at the White House with representatives of about a dozen gun
control organizations.
"The president and I are determined to take action. This is not an
exercise in photo opportunities," Mr. Biden said as photographers were
given a chance to take pictures before the closed-door meeting.
During the two-hour meeting, participants said, Mr. Biden and Attorney
General Eric H. Holder Jr. told the group that President Obama was
planning a comprehensive effort to pass legislation and use executive
orders to prevent gun violence.
"Clearly they are not talking about just having a conversation with
the American people," said John Feinblatt, who attended the meeting on
behalf of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, an outspoken advocate for
greater gun control measures.
Mr. Feinblatt, a top aide to Mr. Bloomberg, said Mr. Biden promised
both a "legislative plan that could be achieved and a plan for
executive actions."
"Both those things are going to be pursued," he said.
The meeting was part of Mr. Biden's effort to develop proposals for
Mr. Obama and Congress in the wake of the mass shooting in Newtown,
Conn., last month. A panel led by Mr. Biden is scheduled to offer
recommendations this month.
Offering a glimpse of the approach that he might take, Mr. Biden
hinted that his group was not likely to recommend an all-or-nothing
approach to the issue of gun violence.
"We are not going to get caught up in the notion unless we can do
everything, we're not going to do anything," Mr. Biden said.
Among those at the White House were representatives of the Brady
Campaign to End Gun Violence, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, States
United to Prevent Gun Violence and several state gun control
organizations.
"I want to hear about your experiences," Mr. Biden, sitting next to
Mr. Holder, said to the group. "I'm convinced that we can affect the
well-being of millions of Americans and take thousands of people out
of harm's way if we act responsibly."
Mr. Feinblatt said the consensus at the meeting was to seek broad
changes to law that would include an assault weapons ban, limits on
high-capacity magazines for ammunition, better enforcement measures, a
gun-trafficking statute and improved data for background checks.
He said the advocates also pushed for executive actions that would not
require Congressional approval, including new efforts by the Justice
Department to prosecute people who lie on their background checks.
Mr. Feinblatt said that some of the people in the meeting told
personal stories of grief that reminded the others around the table
that "this is not some abstract exercise."
Mr. Biden made it clear that doing nothing about gun violence was not
an option under consideration. But he also said that his group would
meet with gun owners and gun rights groups - including the National
Rifle Association - that oppose significant new gun restrictions.
"I've also invited the gun owners and the N.R.A. to come and make
their case as well," Mr. Biden said. "We are reaching out to all
parties on whatever side of this debate that you fall."
He added: "But the president is going to act. There is executive
action that can be taken. We haven't decided what that is yet."
In addition to the N.R.A., representatives from Walmart, whose stores
are the largest seller of guns in the country, will also attend a
meeting with the vice president on Thursday.
A spokesman for the company initially told The Wall Street Journal
that Walmart would not be sending anyone to the meeting. But David
Tovar, the vice president for corporate communications, reversed
himself Wednesday morning.
"We underestimated the expectation to attend the meeting on Thursday
in person, so we are sending an appropriate representative to
participate," Mr. Tovar said in a statement. "We take this issue very
seriously and are committed to staying engaged in this discussion as
the administration and Congress work toward a consensus on the right
path forward."
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