WASHINGTON (CBS4) – The White House enlisted help from law enforcement leaders, including Aurora’s police chief, in an effort to pass new gun legislation.

President Barack Obama met with police chiefs and sheriffs Monday from three communities that have dealt with tragedies in the past year. Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates was among those.

The president said no group is more important in the gun debate than law enforcement.

“If law enforcement officials who are dealing with this stuff every single day can come to some basic consensus in terms of steps we need to take, Congress is going to be paying attention to them and we’ll be able to make progress,” Obama said.

The president has urged Congress to limit high-capacity magazines, require universal background checks, and pass an assault weapon ban.