LEXINGTON, KY - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ignored the hot-button issue of gun control during a speech in Lexington, instead discussing the nation's debt problem.

The Lexington Herald-Leader says McConnell told a group of business leaders Friday that the nation's debt is the biggest problem facing the nation. McConnell told attendees at Commerce Lexington's Public Policy Luncheon that the way to get a handle on it is to make changes to entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

He told the group those changes should include gradually raising eligibility ages.

McConnell did not mention gun control and did not take questions from reporters. During a question-and-answer session with attendees, there were also no questions about gun control.

He also discussed his role in the fiscal cliff negotiations and his recent trip to Afghanistan.