■ Gun-rights backers in Congress show willingness to weigh laws,

Gun rights backers in Congress willing to talk about laws.

By Larry Margasak WASHINGTON — Congressional gun rights supporters showed an increased willingness Tuesday to consider new legislation to control firearms in the aftermath of the Connecticut school shootings — provided it also addresses mental health issues and the impact of violent video games.

A former co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and 10-term House Republican Jack Kingston, a Georgia lawmaker elected with strong National Rifle Association backing, were the latest to join the call to consider gun control as part of a comprehensive, anti-violence effort next year.

“Put guns on the table, also put video games on the table, put mental health on the table,” Kingston said.

But he added that nothing should be done immediately, saying: “There is a time for mourning and a time to sort it out.

“I look forward to sorting it out and getting past the grief stage.”

With the nation’s nerves still raw over the murders of 20 elementary schoolchildren and six teachers, White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Barack Obama was “actively supportive” of a plan by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to introduce legislation to reinstate an assault weapons ban.

While Obama has long supported a ban, he exerted little effort to get it passed during his first term.

Meanwhile, the NRA, silent since the shootings, said in a statement Tuesday that it “is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.”

There was no indication what that might entail.

The group, the bestknown defender of gun rights in America, scheduled a news conference for Friday.

On Capitol Hill, Feinstein is likely to become chairman next year of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which may get the first crack at considering firearms legislation.

Carney said the president also would support legislation that closes a gun show “loophole,” which allows people to buy guns from private dealers without a background check.

And he says Obama would be “interested in looking at” legislation to restrict high capacity ammunition clips.

The spokesman said Obama was heartened by growing support on Capitol Hill for a national discussion on gun violence, particularly from seemingly unlikely lawmakers.

The president spoke Tuesday with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat and hunter, who said after the Connecticut shootings that “everything should be on the table.”