He said the National Rifle Association (NRA) had deliberately misrepresented proposed legislation on gun control.
The NRA declined to take part in the discussion, which it called a public relations spectacle.
Meanwhile, US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump said he would eliminate gun-free zones in schools on his first day in office, if elected.
Addressing the audience at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, Mr Obama blamed the NRA
and others for suggesting that "somebody's going to come grab your guns".
He said that all he was seeking to do was strengthen background checks - not seize all firearms.
More on US gun debate
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Media captionThe BBC contrasts President Obama's reactions after mass shootings, with the levels of US gun ownership during his terms in office. (Video by David Botti)
Why Obama is powerless - the roadblock at Congress
Are you mad or criminal? - the question a gun seller asks
Texas women and their firearms - a photographer taught to shoot at an early age
Do tighter gun laws work? - a state where guns are a way of life
Guns at home - the question parents hate to ask before a playdate
He took questions from Taya Kyle, whose late husband, shooting victim Chris Kyle, was depicted in the film American Sniper.
Separately, in an article in the New York Times, he called gun violence a national crisis, and urged owners and firearm manufacturers to play their part in ending it.
Mr Obama added that he would not campaign for Democrats who did not back gun reforms, saying he wanted leaders brave enough to stand up to what he called the gun lobby's lies.
NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said the group had seen "no reason to participate in a public relations spectacle orchestrated by the White House".
What is the NRA?
History: The NRA was founded in 1871 with the aim of training men in marksmanship. It began lobbying on gun policy in 1975 and is now one of the most powerful special interest groups in the US.
Budget: The NRA has big coffers. It spends about $250m per year - more than all of America's gun control advocacy groups combined. About $3m of that is spent on lobbying.
Membership: The association boasts of nearly 5m members, although analysts say the figure is probably closer to 3m. Famous members have included Charlton Heston, Whoopi Goldberg, and former president George Bush Snr.
Controversy: The NRA has been widely criticised for its statements on mass shootings, including a claim in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre that a lack of armed guards at schools was to blame.
Donald Trump made his promise to end gun-free zones when he addressed a rally in Vermont.
"You know what a gun-free zone is for a sicko?" he asked the crowd. "That's bait."
Earlier this week, Mr Obama unveiled a package of executive actions aimed at keeping guns from people who should not have access to them.
These involve
Background checks for all gun sellers, overturning current exemptions to some online and gun show sellers
States providing information on people disqualified from buying guns due to mental illness or domestic violence
Increased workforce for the FBI to process background checks, hiring more than 230 new examiners
Congress being asked to invest $500m (£339m) to improve access to mental healthcare in the US
The departments of defence, justice and homeland security exploring "smart gun technology" to improve gun safety
Leading US Republicans denounced the move.
House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said the executive orders, which bypass Congress, "undermined liberty" and would be challenged in court.
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