Gun control advocates say Obama, who often touts his willingness to defy prevailing political opinion in service of higher principle, has the moral responsibility to make some kind of statement on the issue – even if the bill has little chance of passing.

“If the president could address the issue in the State of the Union that would be really important,” says Paul Helmke, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, a major gun control group…

When asked if Obama will take up the issue of guns at next Tuesday’s State of the Union speech – White House officials said they know of no current plans to include the issue in his address, although plans could change.