Gotta shore up the base.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A second term as first lady finds Michelle Obama using her spotlight to draw attention to another issue involving the welfare of children: young people and gun violence.

A meeting with high school students from a rough neighborhood in her hometown of Chicago led Mrs. Obama to start putting a new spin on the stalled legislative debate over access to guns.

A mother to a teen and a tween, Mrs. Obama says the country is obligated to help kids like these grow up and become adults. Several current and former students at Chicago’s Harper High School were killed by gunfire within the past year.

The first lady on Tuesday faced immigration _ another new issue for her _ when she delivered the keynote speech in New Orleans at the annual conference of the National Council of La Raza. Immigration is one of President Barack Obama’s top second-term priorities, as it is for the Latino advocacy group.

Mrs. Obama urged the group’s members to stay encouraged and continue to press the House to follow the lead of the Senate and pass an immigration bill.

“Do not give up because I promise you my husband won’t give up until a good bill gets on his desk,” she said.

HT: DRUDGE