Vice President Biden(Photo: Susan Walsh, AP)
Vice President Biden meets Thursday with the National Rifle
Association and other gun owners groups, but early signs do not suggest a
meeting of the minds.
In a radio interview this week, NRA
President David Keene criticized Biden and President Obama over their
anti-gun violence efforts, calling it a political project.
MORE: Obama weighs action on guns
"I think they're being disingenuous," Keene said, CBS News reported.
"I think that they see this as an opportunity to go after the Second
Amendment, which they've wanted to do for years, if not decades, and I
think they're going to do everything they can to strip Americans of
their right to keep and bear arms."
Biden and Obama have said they
respect the Second Amendment right of gun ownership, but are looking
for ways to keep weapons out of the wrong hands in the wake of last
month's elementary school shooting in Connecticut.
The
president assigned Biden to develop a legislative package by the end of
the month. Obama is also considering a series of executive actions in
the wake of the shooting that killed 20 children and six adults staff
members.
MORE: Biden: Obama may take 'executive action' on gun control
The vice president has been meeting with a series of
"stakeholders" on the issues, from gun control advocates to gun rights
groups, faith leaders to elected officials, hunters to members of the
entertainment industry.
"We've reached out beyond the issue of
just gun safety," Biden said Wednesday. "We've reached out to the mental
health community. We've reached out to doctors and nurses. We've
reached out to the religious community."
MORE: Pace of gun bills continues despite Congress' absence
The White House issued a statement on Biden's talk Wednesday meeting with elected officials:
"Following
a meeting with representatives of victims' groups and gun safety
organizations, the vice president held conference calls with governors
of both parties and state and local elected leaders from across the
United States.
"During the calls, the vice president listened to
the unique perspectives of all the participants and solicited their
ideas and input on how to curb gun violence in this country. The vice
president reiterated the administration's commitment to this urgent
issue, and stressed that the problem requires immediate action."
USA Today