President Barack Obama won’t push for stricter gun laws as he continues to campaign for a second term in the White House, the Associated Press is reporting. The news comes a day after his made remarks about the need to keep weapons off the streets, and hinted that he may challenge Congress to act.

President Obama is expected to stand behind the current laws, and encourage the government to enforce existing laws better. This is the same view held by Republican candidate Mitt Romney, as the two search for ways to keep guns away from killers.

But the president still wants Congress to reinstitute a federal ban on military-style assault weapons that lapsed years ago. But he hasn’t been pushing for that ban.

With the election in just over 100 days, government officials believe there isn’t time to have a debate on gun control. Americans appear to be evenly divided on gun control, as public opinion has shifted away from tighter control in the past 20 years.

Government officials said that background checks and laws are futile in keeping someone determined to commit a massacre from getting a gun. Even James Holmes, the suspect in the Auroa, Colorado shootings at the ‘Dark Knight Rises’ midnight showing, broke now laws when he purchased the guns he’s accused of using.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Obama said Congress has opposed steps to reduce violence. But he added that everything should be done to keep young people safe from violence.

Written by: Karen Benardello