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| Obama considers unilateral action on US gun violence | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| President Obama has said he wants to take unilateral action to tackle the problem of gun violence in the US. | |
| In his first weekly address of 2016, Mr Obama said he would meet Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss possible actions. | |
| He said he would seek to use his executive powers as president because the US Congress had failed to address the problem. | |
| Analysts say there will be a backlash from gun activists and Republicans. | Analysts say there will be a backlash from gun activists and Republicans. |
| But Mr Obama told Americans that he had received too many letters from parents, and teachers, and children, to sit around and do nothing. | But Mr Obama told Americans that he had received too many letters from parents, and teachers, and children, to sit around and do nothing. |
| "We know that we can't stop every act of violence," the president said. "But what if we tried to stop even one? What if Congress did something - anything - to protect our kids from gun violence?" | "We know that we can't stop every act of violence," the president said. "But what if we tried to stop even one? What if Congress did something - anything - to protect our kids from gun violence?" |
| He has admitted that his inability to win Congressional backing for what he called "common sense gun laws" was the greatest frustration of his presidency. | He has admitted that his inability to win Congressional backing for what he called "common sense gun laws" was the greatest frustration of his presidency. |
| The BBC's Laura Bicker in Washington says the president could use his executive authority in several areas, including expanding new background check requirements for buyers who purchase weapons from high-volume dealers. | The BBC's Laura Bicker in Washington says the president could use his executive authority in several areas, including expanding new background check requirements for buyers who purchase weapons from high-volume dealers. |
| However he is likely to face stiff opposition to his plans, our correspondent says. | However he is likely to face stiff opposition to his plans, our correspondent says. |
| The National Rifle Association has already launched a video series attacking gun control activists. | The National Rifle Association has already launched a video series attacking gun control activists. |
| And in Texas, a new "open carry law" will allow Texans with a permit to wear handguns on their hips in holsters - openly displaying the fact they are armed. | And in Texas, a new "open carry law" will allow Texans with a permit to wear handguns on their hips in holsters - openly displaying the fact they are armed. |
| Last month a Texas police chief warned the president that trying to disarm Americans could spark a revolution. | Last month a Texas police chief warned the president that trying to disarm Americans could spark a revolution. |
| Previous efforts to introduce stricter gun control laws have repeatedly foundered despite the large number of people dying in gun attacks. | Previous efforts to introduce stricter gun control laws have repeatedly foundered despite the large number of people dying in gun attacks. |
| A joint Democrat-Republican bill following the 2012 shooting of 20 children and six adults at a primary school in Connecticut failed to get the 60 votes needed to broaden background checks and ban assault weapons. | A joint Democrat-Republican bill following the 2012 shooting of 20 children and six adults at a primary school in Connecticut failed to get the 60 votes needed to broaden background checks and ban assault weapons. |