In a New York Times op-ed published Thursday, President Obama called the "epidemic of gun violence" in the United States a "crisis," and said it was time to "demand leaders brave enough to stand up to the gun lobby's lies."
Gun-related deaths and injuries "constitute one of the greatest threats to public health and to the safety of the American people," he wrote, and while it will be hard to reduce gun violence, "there are steps we can take now to save lives." As president, Obama used his legal authority to issue executive actions, and as a citizen, "I will not campaign for, vote for, or support any candidate, even in my own party, who does not support common-sense gun reform. And if the 90 percent of Americans who do support common-sense gun reforms join me, we will elect the leadership we deserve."
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