Obama to honor gun victims with empty seat at speech
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President Barack Obama plans to honor victims of gun violence in his State of the Union address next week by leaving a seat empty in the first lady's viewing box.
On a phone call with supporters, Obama said he hopes the empty seat will be a reminder of those who have been killed, and a message to Congress to act.
He says, "Their absence means something to this country."
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Presidents have long invited prominent individuals and average Americans to sit with the first lady, often as a way to underscore a theme.
Obama is expected to make the case for tougher gun control laws in the speech.