Biden, NRA, Wal-Mart meet for gun talks
President Barack Obama makes a statement alongside Vice President Joseph R. Biden (L) in the White House Briefing Room on January 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. Biden is leading talks about gun safety and will meet with representatives from the NRA and Wal-Mart.
Vice President Joe Biden, who is leading the Obama administration's task force on gun safety, met with representatives from the National Rifle Association and Wal-Mart on Thursday.
Biden said that there appears to be an emerging consensus from the meetings for universal background checks for all gun buyers and a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines, according to The Washington Post.
He said he would present his group's recommendations to President Barack Obama on Tuesday.
Biden, who is preparing to make recommendations on gun policy by the end of month, has vowed urgent action in the wake of the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last month, which left 20 children and 7 adults dead, CBS News said.
ABC News said advocates for sportsmen, women's groups, wildlife groups and gun owners will also be present at the meeting. In the evening, Biden will meet members of the entertainment industry.
James J. Baker, the NRA's top lobbyist, attended the meeting.
"We are sending a representative to hear what they have to say," said Andrew Arulanandam, a spokesman for the NRA, according to ABC News.
Wal-Mart, which initially turned down the invitation to attend the meeting, reversed its stance.
"We take this issue very seriously and are committed staying engaged in this discussion as the Administration and Congress work toward a consensus on the right path forward," said David Tovar, vice president of corporate communications for Wal-Mart, according to ABC News.
Wal-Mart sells guns in 1,650 of its more than 3,800 stores, noted ABC News.
Politico said expectations are low for the meetings yielding any progress, because the NRA doesn't want new gun laws and Wal-Mart sells a lot of guns.
After the meeting, the NRA said some participants in the meeting were more interested in demonizing the Second Amendment than safeguarding children in schools. It said it "will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen," according to the Associated Press.
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