But it was far from certain whether the shooting would actually influence the larger debate over gun control vs. gun rights, given that the already difficult politics of the issue have gotten only tougher since December's shooting at Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School. That shooting, which killed 20 first-graders and six staffers, spurred Obama to propose stricter firearms laws to prevent future deaths.
Gun owners, aided by their advocates at the National Rifle Association, have successfully fought Obama's legislation, even though polls show broad support for tougher gun laws.
Obama and gun control advocates have vowed to continue fighting since the Senate rejected expanded background checks in April, but they can't point to a single new Senate supporter. Their case wasn't helped by last week's NRA-backed recall of two Colorado Democratic senators who supported expanded background checks and limits on ammunition magazines.
Even as it was unfolding, the Washington shooting was reigniting talk about guns. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a leading advocate of gun control legislation, mourned "the litany of massacres" the country has suffered in the form of mass shootings.
"When will enough be enough?" Feinstein asked. "Congress must stop shirking its responsibility and resume a thoughtful debate on gun violence in this country. We must do more to stop this endless loss of life."
The shooting at the Navy Yard came a week after voters recalled two Colorado legislators who supported tougher gun measures, illustrating the strong political headwinds faced by lawmakers seeking to respond to the violence.
Matt Bennett, senior vice president at Democratic-leaning Third Way, says the Colorado senators' mistake was banning high-capacity ammunition magazines even though Third Way has supported such a ban.
"We do as good public policy, but we don't support Congress trying to do it at this point because it's bad politics," Bennett said. "Voters don't like it."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an advocate for stricter gun laws with his group Mayor's Against Illegal Guns, contributed around $350,000 to support the Colorado Democrats Senate President John Morse and Sen. Angela Giron. The NRA spent roughly the same amount opposing them.
Mark Glaze, executive director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, said the group will continue to "give legislators who take risks to protect public safety the resources to defend themselves." He said it may take some time, but predicted eventually they will have support in the Senate for tighter laws.
"It's a question of how long some senators think they can politically sustain doing nothing while 33 more Americans die every day and the mass shootings continue," Glaze said.
Obama didn't mention gun control as he addressed the Navy Yard shooting from the White House, promising to pursue "whoever carried out this cowardly act."
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Follow Nedra Pickler on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nedrapickler
