Politics & Government

Oak Creek Stays In Gun Reform Debate

President Barack Obama mentioned the Aug. 5 mass shooting at the Oak Creek Sikh temple as he laid out a comprehensive package to address gun violence.

In laying out a comprehensive plan to address gun violence Wednesday, President Barack Obama again referenced the Aug. 5 mass shooting in Oak Creek.

"We have the right to worship freely and safely; that right was denied to Sikhs in Oak Creek, Wisconsin," Obama said.

Oak Creek has been in the middle of the nationwide debate over gun reforms. Obama has mentioned the city, along with several other communities where mass shootings have taken place, in multiple speeches since the Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, Ct.

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"The most fundamental set of rights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, fundamental rights that were denied to college students at Virginia Tech, high school students at Columbine and elementary school students in Newtown, and kids on street corners in Chicago, are too frequent a basis to tolerate," Obama said.

In addition, Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi arrived in Washington on Wednesday and met with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

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In a statement released through the Mayors Against Illegal Guns group, of which Scaffidi is a member, he said:

"As a mayor of a city impacted by a horrific act of gun violence in August of 2012, I was invited to be in the audience today as President Obama and Vice President Biden began a discussion on curbing the cycle of violence in our country. While partisan politics continues to destroy our culture of open and honest public discourse, I am hopeful that regardless of party, all elected officials will work constructively to find real solutions to these issues."


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