‘Nothing trumps our liberty’: Gun owners criticise Barack Obama as he meets grieving families following Oregon shooting
In the wake of the Umpqua killings, Obama angrily called on Congress to do more and warned that failure to act on gun control was a “political decision,” vowing to keep pushing for reform.
US President Barack Obama met in Oregon on Friday with relatives of victims of a deadly rampage at a community college, as shootings on two more school campuses left two people dead and four wounded.
Hundreds gathered outside the gate to the local airport to greet Obama, where he earned a mixed reception.
While one sign said “Welcome to Roseburg,” others read “Obama is Wrong” and “Nothing Trumps Our Liberty” – clear signs that the president’s visit to the rural, conservative community is not appreciated by all.
Obama delivered an impassioned plea for stricter gun controls after last week’s shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, in which a 26-year-old gunman shot dead nine people and then committed suicide.
“I’ve obviously got strong feelings about this,” he said during his hour-long meeting with families at Roseburg High School, attended by Oregon Governor Kate Brown, who previously updated the president on efforts to support them.
“We’re going to have to come together as a country, but today is about the families.”