President Obama’s Campaign Arm Making Gun Control Push

“One child every three hours. Enough.”

BY: CHRISTINA BELLANTONI, pbs.org

Even as a government spending crisis nears, President Obama and Vice President Biden have been working steadily on gun control measures, both in public and private.

The president’s newly revamped campaign arm, now dubbed Organizing for Action, on Friday mounts a major push to apply pressure on members of Congress to back a specific proposal from the White House: closing the loopholes in background checks to purchase firearms.

The first “Day of Action” will feature more than 100 events in 80 different congressional districts. An official with the group said the events include “Letter to the editor writing parties, or rallies and press events,” along with candlelight vigils. Just like campaign events in 2008 and 2012, the supporters organized “what they thought was the best event for their community,” the official said.

The effort launched with a to-the-camera video from Sami Rahamim, whose father was killed in a workplace shooting. “We’ve lost enough friends and family members and fellow Americans,” Rahamim says. “It’s time to do something about this.”

And groups are getting just as involved. Consider this new spot from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE). It takes a simple approach — women speaking right to the camera asking viewers to “demand a plan.”

“One child every three hours,” the moms say. “Enough.”

Read the entire story at pbs.org