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Reflecting on the Charleston church shooting last Wednesday, President Obama said that beyond the grieving, “it’s not enough just to feel bad.” He called for \"common-sense gun safety laws\" so that recurrences of mass shootings cease to be “something that we expect.”

“One of those actions that we could take would be to enhance some basic, common-sense gun-safety laws,” Obama said. “Each time that these events occur, ironically, gun manufacturers make out like bandits, partly because of this fear that’s churned up that the government and the black helicopters are all coming to get your guns.”

The president went on to make the case that a balance can be struck between respect for hunting traditions as a legitimate form of gun use while also keeping firearms out of the hands of those who intend to do harm.

“The question is just: Is there a way of accommodating that legitimate set of traditions with some common-sense stuff that prevents a 21-year old who is angry about something or confused about something, or is racist, or is deranged, from going into a gun store and suddenly is packing and can do enormous harm that is not something we have ever fully come to terms with,” Obama said.

Obama added that he does not expect the current Congress to make meaningful strides on gun-safety laws, because “unfortunately the grip of the NRA on Congress is extremely strong.”

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