US vice president Joe Biden is asking pastors, rabbis and nuns to help make the moral argument to their followers for gun control legislation.
Mr Biden met leaders from faith communities for two and a half hours. Participants emerged from the meeting encouraged that the Obama administration was not giving up the fight even though efforts in the Senate so far have failed.
But round two on gun control may have to wait. Participants say it was clear from the meeting that another vote would not take place until after congress finished work on an immigration overhaul.
Participants say some clergy who represent evangelical and conservative communities had reservations about the legislation, especially about expanded background checks. But they say Mr Biden and his aides reassured them the legislation was not overly broad.
AP