private time with many of the families who lost their children that day, and, one was family of grace mcdonnell. grace's parents are here. grace was 7 years old when she was struck down, just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. and so just before i left chris, her father, gave me one of other paintings. and i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting i think about grace. and i think about the life that she lived, and the life that lay ahead of her, and most of all, i think about how when it comes to proing most vulnerable among us, we must act now. for grace. for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. for the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victims to senseless violence each and every day. for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them, and for this country that we love so much. [applause] thank you. we'll sign

and one was the family of grace mcdonnell. grace's parents are here. grace was 7 years old when she was struck down. just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. and so just before i left chris, her father gave me one of her paintings. and i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. and every time i look at this painting, i think about grace. and i think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her. and most of all, i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. >> you may remember i interviewed grace's parents days after the killing. they gave me a copy of that same drawing as well. i spoke with them earlier this evening. they didn't want to come on camera tonight, but they were overwhelmed by the president's words, and said they drew strength from his determination. as for what president obama plans to do, it comes in two forms, really, legislative and executive. now the president took executiv

family members of the newtown victims were in the audience, including the parents of 7-year-old grace mcdonnell. >> chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings, and i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting, i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now for grace. >> the nra is getting ready for battle, raising money and e-mailing supporters to upgrade their membership for, quote, the fight of the century. >> we're not saying that your rights are at risk. the president of the united states is saying that. >> so where do things go from here? nbc's tracie potts is in washington for us. tracie, how is the president going to get the public and congress to support this legislative agenda? >> reporter: with a very public campaign, mara. started last night with an op-ed the president published in "the connecticut post." the newspaper up there where the newtown tragedy happened. in it he said that congress needs to help and not hinder bypassing this ban on assault weapons and on magazines, but it look

. >>> also ahead, one of 7-year-old grace mcdonnell's favorite singers, kenny chesney.ribute to his fan and her teachers and classmates. ♪ was blind but now i see [ watch ticking ] [ engine revs ] come in. ♪ got the coffee. that was fast. we're outta here. ♪ [ engine revs ] ♪ starts with arthritis pain and a choice. take tylenol or take aleve, the #1 recommended pain reliever by orthopedic doctors. just two aleve can keep pain away all day. back to the news. >>> sandy hook students are settling into their new school, it's been given a makeover, including familiar furniture and a new paint job in sandy hook's colors. classes began on january 3rd. you can imagine what an emotional day that was. our gary tuchman spoke to amy as her daughter ella was getting ready to go back. here's what she said then. >> it's mixed emotions. you know, it's good. she needs to go back. they all need to go back. they say the best thing you can do is get back to your normal routine, while that's being one of the hardest things you can do. i'm sure they'll be safe. i'm sure that school is going

in newtown in the dark days right after the shooting, i spoke with the parents of 7-year-old grace mcdonnellth them in the face of courage and unimaginable loss. i will always think of the bright young person, who was talented. grace said that kenny chesney was one of her favorites, she and her mom sang his songs as they waited for the school bus. kenny chesney agreed to sing that song. as we looked at the families, we remembered them and wished them continued peace and strength. >> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ now, amazing grace, how sweet the sound ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ that saved a wretch like me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ i once was lost, but now i'm found. was blind, but now i see ♪ ♪ ♪ twas grace that taught my heart to

in newtown in the dark days right after the shootings, i spoke with the parents of 7-year-old grace mcdonnell them in the face of their unimaginable loss. i will always think of the bright young person, who was talented whenever i hear the song "amazing grace." grace said that kenny chesney was one of her favorites, she and her mom sang his songs as they waited for the school bus. kenny chesney agreed to sing "amazing grace" in her honor and all the people of newtown, connecticut. as we looked at the families, we remembered them and wished them continued peace and strength. ♪ amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me ♪ ♪ i once was lost but now i'm found was blind but now i see ♪ ♪ was grace that taught my heart to fear ♪ ♪ and grace my fear relieved ♪ how precious did that grace

. >>> also ahead, one of 7-year-old grace mcdonnell's favorite singers, kenny chesney.te to his fan and her teachers and classmates. ♪ was blind but now i see so now i can be in the scene. advair is clinically proven to help significantly improve lung function. unlike most copd medications, advair contains both an anti-inflammatory and a long-acting bronchodilator working together to help improve your lung function all day. advair won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. people with copd taking advair may have a higher chance of pneumonia. advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking advair. if you're still having difficulty breathing, ask your doctor if including advair could help improve your lung function. get your first full prescription free and save on refills at advaircopd.com. is efficiently absorbed in small continuous amounts. citracal slow release continuously releases calcium plus d with effic

reporter: they were held throughout the country today with the intention of preventing this -- ♪ grace mcdonnellas one of the sandy hook victims. her parents sat in the audience as the white house embarks on one of the most extensive gun control efforts ever. the initiative -- a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. universal background checks. additional mental health services. author, stephen king is pulling his book, "rage," about a high school student who guns down faculty members then takes his class hostage. published in 1977 under the pseudonym richard bachman. four different teenagers who committed school shootings had copies of the book. >> you don't leave a can of gasoline where a boy with firebug tendencies can lay hands on it. >> reporter: and congress members vowing to take the nra head on. >> the gun lobby can be stopped my friends, they can be stopped. >> reporter: voices in the crowd taking the first steps in a long push to reform the nation's gun laws. they looked ahead to wednesday, the first congressional hearings for legislation on gun control. the head of the n

obama closed with a tribute to seven-year-old grace mcdonnell, who died at sandy hook elementary. the president met the family privately during the newtown memorial service. it was there that grace's father gave the president one of her paintings. it now hangs in the study next to the oval office. >> every time i look at that painting, i think about grace, and i think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her. and most of all, i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. >> reporter: the white house will not send a comprehensive gun control bill to congress. top white house officials say hardening opposition there to a push to ban future sales of assault weapons and high- ammunition magazines may interfere with the push for universal background checks on all firearm sales and a new gun trafficking law. those last two will be dealt with separately, and though they don't attract the biggest headlines, the white house believes they can pass, and, scott, they believe it might do the most good. >> pelley: major, than

and one was the family of grace mcdonnell, grace's parents are here. grace was 7 years old when she was struck down. just -- a gorgeous, caring joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. and so just before i left chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings. and i hung it in my private study, just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting, i think about grace. and i think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her. and most of all i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us we must act now. for grace. for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so many left to give. for the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victim to senseless violence each and every day. for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them, and for this country that we love so much. thank you. >> krystal ball, that was a parent and fath

one was the family of grace mcdonnell. grace's parents are here. grace was 7 years old when she was struck down. a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. and so just before i left chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings. and i hung it in my private study. just out of the oval office. and every time i look at that painting, i think about grace. and i think about the life that she lived. and the life that lay ahead of her. and mostov of all, i think abou how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. for grace. for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. for the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victim to senseless violence each and every day. for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them and for this country that we love so much. thank you. i'm going to sign these orders. [ applause ]

one was the family of grace mcdonnell. her parents are here. grace was 7 years old was she was struck down. just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i am told she loved pink, she loved the beach, she dreamed of becoming a painter. just before i left chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings. i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. every time i look at that painting, i think about grace. i think about the life she lived to end the life that lay ahead of her and most of all, i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. for grace. for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. for the men and women in big cities and small towns of fall victim to senseless violence each and every day. for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them and for this country that we love so much. thank you. i'm going to sign these orders. [applause] [captioning performed by n

private time with many of the families who lost their children that day, and one was the family of grace mcdonnell, grace's parents were here. grace was 7 years old when she was struck down. just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. and, so just before i left, chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings, and i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting, i think about grace, and i think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her, and most of all, i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now, for grace, for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. for the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victim to senseless violence each and every day. for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them and for this country that we love so much. thank you. [ applause ] i'

in a powerful moment today the president spoke about meeting the parents of newtown victim grace mcdonnellthere she is. let's take a look. >> grace was seven years old when she was struck down. just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings. and i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting, i think about grace. and i think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her. and most of all i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. >> you know, i think the responsibility of officials to protect the society. they're doing their jobs. for rush and those people to come out and say this is all theater, nobody made up this crime, this horror. nobody made it up. it's true. it's reality. it's the world we live in. and it's going to happen again. i thought it was interesting that the nra put out the phrase referring to the inevitability of this happening again.

and the answer to that question is really in a painting by grace mcdonnell, a 6-year-old sandy hook victim whose dad gave the president a piece of her artwork >> obama: i think about grace. i think about the life that she lived. and the life that lay ahead of her. and most of all, i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. >> jennifer: for grace, this fight is worth waging. and for her this fight may even be worth losing in the short term anyway. because while the president might be able to squeak out an unsatisfying victory a small and ugly bill riddled with loopholes and signifying nothing, perhaps in this instance, the better course is to wage the big fight to stand strong over banning assault rifles. even when you know you're not going to get the votes in congress because it is a noble cause. because it is better to lose with grace than to win ugly. because every day the extremists froth about saddam hussein and king obama and impeachment over a rational ban on assault rifles. they make the case to most everyday americans that these par

you may remember grace mcdonnell. she was killed in the shooting. one of grace's favorite singers. she used to sing his songs waiting for the school bus with her mom. we'll play that for you tonight. all of that at the top of the hour. erin. >> fifth story "outfront." two more cases of gang rape in india. one shockingly similar to the brutal rape and murder last month of a 23-year-old woman, a story that captured the world's attention. six suspects now have been arrested in the gang rape of a 29-year-old who was taking the bus to her family's village on friday night. the bus driver and conductor are among the accused. and in another case, a woman traveling with her 10-year-old son to new delhi was dragged off a train, gang raped, strangled, and then hanged. no arrests have been reported in this truly brutal attack. freida pinto is famous for her role in "slumdog millionaire" and she's speaking out against these horrific crimes. these stories, the mostresisant two, horrific stories of rape. a woman hanged. as a woman growing up in india, do these stor

. >> grace mcdonnell was a huge fan of yours.ondering what does it mean to you that she found your story so amazing to her? she loved your story. >> well, you know, i talked to jack, the son of his sister, who was killed and he was taking it pretty hard. and lynn, when she was interviewed by anderson cooper and also the husband, i got inspiredism really got inspired by what they said. they wanted jack to release all his anger and forgive. and so he can move on in his life. and he was very strong about that so i sent jack a rudy package, a helmet, a jersey, a football, and a book and some memorabilia of the carry-off. i said you jack, here's what we are going to do, my friend. i said you are going to come to a notre dame football game, next year. we are going to get you there, your mom, you, you will have that experience. he really got excited. i talked to lynn, the mother, and boy, she was just as -- as pure as you can get and forgiving and what a wonderful example she is for everyone, for the strength and the character and the h

newtown victims, and making an emotional reference to one of the children who died. 7-year-old grace mcdonnell. >> i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings. and i hung it in my private study, just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting, i think about grace. when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. for grace. >> president outlined four major points, what he called concrete steps, to keep kids safe. each one evoking memories of past mass shootings. first, mental health and information-sharing. the executive action will make it easier to share mental health records with authorities. a move maybe that could have identified seung-hei cho as a threat before the massacre. there was the ban that expired in 2004 and the type of gun used in newtown, connecticut is the kind that would be banned under a new law. >>> a limit on the size of magazine clips. the president wants legislation to limit clips to ten bullets. something that would have reduced, perhaps, the n

private time with many of the families who lost their children that day, and one was the family of grace mcdonnell parents are here. grace was 7 years old when she was struck down, just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink, she loved the beach, she dreamed of becoming a painter, and so just before i left chris, her father gave me one of her paintings. and i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting i think about grace. and i think about the life that she lived, and the life that lay ahead of her, and most of all i think about how when it comes to protect being the most vulnerable among us we must act now for grace, for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. for the men and women in big cities and small towns to fall victims to senseless violence each and every day. for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them, and for this country that we love so much. thank you. [applause] >> i'm going to

one was the family of grace mcdonnell. grace's paris are here.k down. she was a gorgeous carrying, joyful little girl--caring. she loved the pink and the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. just before i left chris her father he gave me one of her paintings. i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. every time i look at penny i think about race. i think about the life she lived a life to let head of her. most of all i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable as we must act now. >> for grace period for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. >> for the men and women of big cities and small towns that fall victims of senseless violence every day. >> for all the americans were counting on us to keep them safe from harm. >> let us do the right thing. let us do the right thing for them, and for this country that we love so much. >> thank you. (cheers and applause) there you see the president signing some of those executive orders into law. signing about $500 million

private time with many of the families who lost their children that day, and one was the family of grace mcdonnell. grace's parents are here. grace was 7 years old when she was struck down. just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter. and so just before i left, chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings, and i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting, i think about grace and i think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her, and most of all, i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. for grace. for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. for the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victim to senseless violence each and every day. for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them and for this country that we love so much. thank you. let's sign these o

yesterday, he took the opposite approach and even mentioned one of the young victims 7-year-old girl grace mcdonnellainting by her father when he visited newtown and he's displaying that in his private study. that was one very unusual way unusual for this president to personalize this issue and i think that that's part of the reason why you're seeing a lot of debate now over his and the white house's use of children in trying to make their case. >> bill: on that point i thought it was very effective to have the four children there. i don't think he exploited them in any way. they wrote to him. they were there for them. selected as sort of representative of all of the letters from children he received. they were there with their parents. he read excerpts from the letters. here's how he started with this little girl. the one with the red dress. sked her to wave to the crowd so everybody knew which one he was talking about. >> obama: she wrote i feel terrible for the parents who lost their children. i love my country. and i want everybody to be happy and safe. >> bill: kind of sums it all up for me. th

private time with many of the families who lost their children that day and one was the family of grace mcdonnellhen she was struck down, a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter, and so just before i left chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings, and i hung it in my private study, just off the oval office, and every time i look at that painting i think about grace, and i think about the life that she lived, and the life that lay ahead of her, and most of all, i think about how, when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now, for grace, for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give, for the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victims to senseless violence each and every day, for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them and for this country that we love so much. thank you. [ applause ] we'll go sign these orders. >> we watch as the president p

private time with many of the families who lost their children that day and one was the family of grace mcdonnell. grace's parents are here. grace was 7 years old when she was struck down. just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. i'm told she loved pink. she loved the beach. she dreamed of becoming a painter and so just before i left chris, her father gain of me one of her paint lings. and i hung it in my private study just off the oval office. and every time i look at that painting, i think about grace. and i think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her and most of all i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now. for grace. for the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. for the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victim to senseless violence each and every day. for all the americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. let's do the right thing. let's do the right thing for them and for this country that we love so much. [applause] thank you. i'm go

mcdonnell. you know that he lost his daughter grace and wasn't here to talk tonight publicly.e was here to listen. he said tonight is a valuable night to have this conversation. i also took time to speak with dave wheeler, the father of benjamin wheeler. he told me that tonight is very important because we're having this discussion and he stood up there and he talked to people and he said, any right that human beings has does not trump the right of my son to life. he got huge applause. a standing ovation from the entire audience. and we've been seeing that all night. one woman also said -- and this really stood out to me, speaking to this panel of bipartisan lawmakers, make your decision based on if your child didn't walk out of that school. they have been on the same page and calling for what is in line with what president obama has been calling for and that is a limit on what kind of assault weapons, what high-capacity magazines there can be. it is very cohesive here tonight. people are on the same page. many more hours ahead on this discussion. >> poppy harlow, thank you ve

i want to personally thank chris and lynn mcdonnell who lost a beautiful daughter, grace, and the otherarents who i had a chance to speak to, for their suggestions and for, again, just for their courage of all of you to be here today. i admire, i admire the grace and the resolve that you're all showing. and i must say, i've been deeply affected by your faith as well. the president and i are going to do everything to try to match the resolve you've demonstrated. no one can know for certain if this senseless act could have been prevented, but we all know we have a moral obligation. a moral obligation to do everything in our power to diminish the prospect that something like this could happen again. as the president knows, i've worked in this field a long time in the united states senate. having chaired a committee that had jurisdiction over these issues of guns and crime. and having drafted the first gun violence legislation, the last gun violence legislation, i should say. and i have no illusions about what we're up against, what we're up against, or how hard the task is in front of us,

i want to personally thank chris and lynn mcdonnell who lost their beautiful daughter grace and the otheru to be here today. i admire -- i admire the grace and the resolve that you all are showing. and i must say i have been deeply affected by your faith as well. and the president and i are going to do everything we can to match the resolve you demonstrated. no one can know for certain if this senseless act could have been prevented. we have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to diminish the prospect that something like this could happen again. as the president knows, i have worked in this field a long time in the united states senate. having chaired a committee that had jurisdiction over these issues of guns and crimes and having drafted the first gun violence legislation, the last gun violence legislation i should say, and i have no illusions about what we're up against or how hard the task is in front of us but i also have never seen the nation's conscience so a chicken by what happened in sandy hook. the world has changed. and it's demanding action. in this context that