The president made a speech at the University of Hartford, and put out a fresh appeal for the public to intensify pressure on the Congress.

 

　　"Now is the time to get engaged, now is the time to get involved, now is the time to push back on fear, and frustration, and misinformation. Now is the time for everybody to make their voices heard from every state house to the corridors of Congress."

 

　　The 12 family members are to travel to Washington in the Presidential plane, the Air Force One.

 

　　This comes amid the high likelihood of Republicans using a blocking maneuver known as the filibuster to halt gun control proposals.

 

　　No major gun legislation has passed the U.S. Congress since 1994.

 

　　The Presidents' efforts to bring in stricter controls have so far faced intense lobbying from gun rights groups.