US calls for gun control grow

WASHINGTON - Movie theaters in cities across the United States on Friday beefed up security after a deadly shooting in an Aurora, Colorado, theater shocked the nation, putting the issue of gun control back into presidential election.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and anti-gun violence groups have called for stricter control over the deadly weapons.

Several cities beefed up their security after the Aurora shooting, including Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Tampa, New Orleans and Washington DC.

Police departments in those cities posted officers in and around theaters to deter possible copycat acts in the wake of the Aurora shooting, especially to theaters where the new Batman movie screened.

The gunman in Aurora opened fire to people attending a midnight screening of the movie, the third installment of director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.

In Washington, movie goers at some cinemas had their bags searched before they could go in for the screening. However, police in the city and in neighboring Maryland said they have no threats targeting the region, and the increased security is expected to be temporary.

Despite the tragedy in Aurora and increased security measures, screenings of the new Batman movie, Dark Knight Rises, were sold out in most theaters.

In addition to the police, movie theaters were also taking precautions. AMC Theaters, North America's second largest cinema chain, announced it is banning some costumes in its theaters, including masks that cover faces and fake weapons. The Aurora gunman covered his face with a gas mask, and wore riot garb during the shooting. Regal Cinemas, the largest chain in North America, didn't ban costumes.

Pilitics set aside

The shooting took place during a heavy day of campaigning for both President Barack Obama and presumed Republican nominee Mitt Romney, and they responded by setting politics aside and calling for reflection.

Obama cut short his campaign swing in Florida on Friday, appearing in only one event instead of the planned two. When he spoke, Obama didn't make his usual campaign speech, instead, he told supporters that "there are going to be other days for politics. This, I think, is a day for prayer and reflection."

After the remarks in Fort Myers, Obama canceled another event in Orlando, and returned to the White House, where he received briefings from officials including FBI Director Robert Mueller, Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan.

Obama also called Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates from the Oval Office, saying he should expect the full support of the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies moving forward.

Just like Obama, Romney chose to forgo a campaign speech. Instead, he made short remarks resembling Obama's, saying "this is a time for each of us to look into our hearts and remember how much we love one another," and urged Americans to "come together." His staff removed all campaign signs prior to Romney's speech.

Calls for gun control grow

Despite putting politics aside for a day, neither Obama nor Romney addressed the issue of gun control in their remarks. The issue was raised instead by New York Mayor Bloomberg and anti-gun violence lobby Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

In morning radio interview hours after the Aurora shooting, Bloomberg called on Obama and Romney to outline a concrete national policy to combat gun violence.

"Soothing words are nice," said Bloomberg, a leading voice in support of stricter gun control, "but maybe it's time that the two people who want to be president of the United States stand up and tell us what they are going to do about it."

"No matter where you stand on the Second Amendment, no matter where you stand on guns, we have a right to hear from both of them concretely, not just in generalities - specifically what are they going to do about guns?"

In a statement, Brady Campaign's President Dan Gross echoed Bloomberg's calls, saying gun violence victims don't want sympathy. "We want action."

"We are insistent that our elected leaders take action to prevent future tragedies. Political cowardice is not an excuse for evasion and inaction on this life-and-death issue," said Gross.

According to US media reports, There are over 283 million guns in the hands of US civilian population, and there are about 4.5 million new guns sold in the country every year. Meanwhile, about 100,000 people were shot by guns every year, and over 30,000 of them die. Since Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were gunned down in 1968, about 1 million Americans have died because of gun violence.