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Nearly one week after the shooting rampage in Colorado, President Obama addressed the issue of gun control at the National Urban League conference in New Orleans, Wednesday (July 25).  The president stood in support of every citizen’s right to bear arms, but stressed the importance of using “common sense,” and doing background checks to prevent firearms from getting in the wrong hands.

“I believe the majority of gun owners would agree we should do everything possible to prevent criminals and fugitives from purchasing weapons, and we should check someone’s criminal record before they can check out a gun seller,” he said. “A mentally unbalanced individual should not be able to get his hands on a gun so easily.”

The shooting, took the lives of 12 people during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight. Gunman James Holmes was in possession of several weapons when he stormed the theater and opened fire, wounding more than 50.

In the aftermath, the commander and chief briefly suspended his campaign and headed to the state to meet with officials and visit victims. “Our hearts break for the victims of the massacre in Aurora,” he added. “We also pray for the less-publicized acts of violence that plague our cities across our country every single day. For every Columbine or Virginia Tech, there are dozens gunned down in the street in Atlanta, or here in New Orleans.

“We have to understand that when a child opens fire on another child, there’s a hole in that child’s heart that government can’t fill. We should leave no stone unturned and recognize that we have no greater mission that keeping our young people safe.”

During his speech, the commander and chief also announced a new program to encourage proper education for Black students. The program, known as the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans will be aimed at creating vast educational options for Black students, and will be signed into law today.

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Photo: AP