Starting now. POTUS in the white house, linked via internet video to a moderator and 5 guest interviewers. Taking questions from them and some pre-recorded ones on youtube. Note my transcription is not exact, just paraphrasing.
Conservative blogger (Kari ____, stay at home mother of 2): One of your proposals is to ban so-called assault rifles, but according to the FBI most murders are committed with handguns. Should we ban handguns?
POTUS: I don't think we should ban handguns. I think we should have a comprehensive package, we're not going to reduce all violence. Where this relates to handguns is with universal background checks. Cracking down on straw purchasers.
When it comes to AWs, the concern is like in Aurora, when a person can fire 100 rds in less than a minute the potential for fatalities increases. Not used for hunting, or sportsmen, or for people just looking to protect their homes. These are weapons of war. So banning them can be a meaningful part of reducing gun violence.
Another blogger follow up question: VPOTUS said there would not be a ban that would result in LEOs going to people's homes to take them. But wouldn't a ban mean we'd have to do this very thing?
POTUS: [Non-answer]. There will be regional differences, but we need common sense steps, vigorous debate. Congress needs a chance to vote. Having visited Newtown, parents said we have to crack down and reduce this violence, even if we're just reducing the chances it might happen, saving a few lives, it's worth it.
