WASHINGTON — Two days after breaking down in tears while announcing executive actions on guns, President Barack Obama fielded questions Thursday night on the divisive issue during an hourlong, televised town-hall-style meeting.
Obama delivered his emotional remarks Tuesday in front of political supporters and the families of those killed and wounded by firearms, many of whom he had personally consoled in the days after mass shootings.
The event Thursday was different. Moderated by CNN, the live question-and-answer session was being billed as a forum for both gun rights advocates and gun control activists. Officials for the network said representatives from both sides had been invited to the session at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington.
Ahead of the forum, Obama wrote in an op-ed article in The New York Times that voters should use the power of the ballot to push for gun control, and he vowed that he would not support any candidate, including Democrats, who did not support responsible gun measures.
"I will not campaign for, vote for or support any candidate, even in my own party, who does not support common-sense gun reform," Obama wrote in the article, which was posted online Thursday evening. "And if the 90 percent of Americans who do support common-sense gun reforms join me, we will elect the leadership we deserve."
An estimated 100 people were inside George Mason's Johnson Center for the event, but officials expected activists from both sides of the gun debate to gather outside as well. Thomas Longo, the university's police chief, said in an email to students and faculty members that some of the protesters were likely to be armed.
"Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, we will likely see protesters on campus — some of whom may be carrying weapons," Longo wrote in the email, which was sent out Thursday morning. "Please be advised that it is lawful to carry firearms in Virginia, and this includes at public outdoor spaces on our campus. University Police is aware of this and will have officers present to ensure that all protesters remain law-abiding and maintain the safety and well-being of Mason's faculty, students and staff."
Longo noted that university policy prohibits George Mason students and faculty and staff members from carrying weapons on campus, and that even gun owners with legal permits were not allowed to take weapons into school buildings.
The presence of gun rights advocates, who accuse Obama of undermining the Second Amendment in a stealth effort to take guns away from law-abiding Americans, could lead to sharp exchanges. White House officials said the president welcomes the chance to have that debate.
"Let's have a conversation," said Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama. "It's a very effective way of separating fact from fiction. This gives him a chance to engage with people who are supportive and who question whether this is the right strategy."
Jarrett said Obama had wanted to announce his executive actions Tuesday "surrounded by people whose lives have been affected by gun violence." But she said he also wanted to begin a broader conversation about what he views as the need for more gun regulations.
In his remarks Tuesday in the East Room of the White House, Obama explained his decision to participate in the televised forum, saying, "My goal here is to bring good people on both sides of this issue together for an open discussion."
Some of Obama's staunch critics doubt his sincerity. Jennifer Baker, an official with the National Rifle Association's lobbying arm in Washington, said the group turned down an invitation from CNN to attend the forum.
In a statement posted on CNN's website, Andrew Arulanandam, an NRA spokesman, said, "The National Rifle Association sees no reason to participate in a public relations spectacle orchestrated by the White House."
On Tuesday, Obama said he had taken a series of actions intended to expand the number of people who undergo criminal background checks when purchasing firearms, by clarifying that existing laws require anyone making a living off the sale of guns to conduct the checks.
The president also announced steps to strengthen enforcement of gun laws; seek more money for mental health care; bolster reporting of missing or stolen guns; improve the efficiency of the background check system; and support new technologies that can make guns safer to use.
But administration officials and gun control advocates acknowledged that the president's ability to accomplish those goals is limited without congressional action. In his remarks, Obama repeatedly urged Americans to put pressure on lawmakers to act.
"I want to be clear," he said. "Congress still needs to act. The folks in this room will not rest until Congress does. Because once Congress gets on board with common-sense gun safety measures, we can reduce gun violence a whole lot more."