US President Barack Obama speaks at a town hall meeting with CNN’s Anderson Cooper (R) on reducing gun violence at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, on January 7, 2016. Obama announced limited measures two days ago to tackle rampant US gun violence and called on Americans to punish lawmakers who oppose more meaningful reforms. AFP PHOTO/NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP / NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — President Barack Obama is facing tough questions in front of an audience of high-profile figures in the debate over gun violence.
At a televised town hall on guns in America, Obama took questions from Taya Kyle, whose late husband was depicted in the film “American Sniper;” Cleo Pendleton, whose daughter was shot and killed near Obama’s Chicago home; and Sheriff Paul Babeu, an Arizona lawman and congressional candidate who accuses Obama of unconstitutional power grabs.
Also in the audience is former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly. Kelly and Giffords became prominent gun control advocates after Giffords was shot in 2011.
The town hall was organized by CNN. Roughly 100 people were invited to attend.
