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Joe Biden to make gun-control recommendations on Tuesday Joe Biden to make gun-control recommendations on Tuesday
(35 minutes later)
US Vice-President Joe Biden has said his task force on gun control will make its recommendations to President Barack Obama as early as Tuesday.US Vice-President Joe Biden has said his task force on gun control will make its recommendations to President Barack Obama as early as Tuesday.
Mr Biden is meeting members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) on day two of White House talks on gun control policy.Mr Biden is meeting members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) on day two of White House talks on gun control policy.
Earlier, Mr Biden said the president could take executive action, if needed.
The perennial US debate on gun violence has been revived by a massacre at a school that left 27 dead last month.The perennial US debate on gun violence has been revived by a massacre at a school that left 27 dead last month.
Soon after Mr Biden spoke, reports of a school shooting in California emerged.
Two people were shot on Thursday morning at a high school in Taft, California, sheriff's officials said. A suspect was reportedly in custody.
Mr Biden said he would present his findings to President Barack Obama next week because they had only a "tight window" of time in which to act.Mr Biden said he would present his findings to President Barack Obama next week because they had only a "tight window" of time in which to act.
'End the madness''End the madness'
"There is nothing that has pricked the consciousness of the American people," Mr Biden said, "there is nothing that has gone to the heart of the matter more than the visual image people have of little six-year-old kids riddled - not shot with a stray bullet - riddled, riddled, with bullet holes in their classroom.""There is nothing that has pricked the consciousness of the American people," Mr Biden said, "there is nothing that has gone to the heart of the matter more than the visual image people have of little six-year-old kids riddled - not shot with a stray bullet - riddled, riddled, with bullet holes in their classroom."
The vice-president said an "emerging set of recommendations" had come from meetings with different stakeholders, including universal background checks for gun buyers and updating databases with information about convicted criminals. The vice-president said recommendations could include universal background checks for gun buyers and updating databases with information about convicted criminals.
Mr Biden also said he had encountered widespread concerns over high-capacity ammunition magazines.Mr Biden also said he had encountered widespread concerns over high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Correspondents say Thursday's NRA meeting could be one of the most difficult for Mr Biden, who is leading the Obama administration's search for new gun control policies. Correspondents say Thursday's NRA meeting could be one of the most difficult for Mr Biden. Later in the day Mr Biden will also meet sportsmen, entertainment industry groups and Walmart, the biggest US gun seller.
The White House has pledged to give its recommendations to Congress by the end of the month.The White House has pledged to give its recommendations to Congress by the end of the month.
On Thursday Mr Biden will also meet sportsmen, entertainment industry groups and Walmart, the biggest US gun seller. But on Wednesday, Mr Biden suggested the president could take executive action, if needed.
Walmart had initially declined to send anyone to the White House, but a spokesman told Reuters news agency the retailer had "underestimated the expectation to attend the meeting".Walmart had initially declined to send anyone to the White House, but a spokesman told Reuters news agency the retailer had "underestimated the expectation to attend the meeting".
Any attempts to impose new gun regulations will meet stiff opposition as many Americans cherish the constitution's Second Amendment on the right to bear arms. Any attempts to impose new gun regulations would meet stiff opposition as many Americans cherish the constitution's Second Amendment on the right to bear arms.
But President Obama does have vocal support for change.But President Obama does have vocal support for change.
On Wednesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo backed tighter restrictions on guns, saying: "No-one hunts with an assault rifle. No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer. End the madness now."On Wednesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo backed tighter restrictions on guns, saying: "No-one hunts with an assault rifle. No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer. End the madness now."
Former president Bill Clinton also said the availability of high-capacity ammunition magazines was "nuts".Former president Bill Clinton also said the availability of high-capacity ammunition magazines was "nuts".
In the wake of December's shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, the NRA advocated armed gunmen at every school in the country. In the wake of December's shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, the NRA advocated having armed gunmen at every school in the country.
Several pro-gun congressmen said the incident had prompted them to reconsider their views. Several pro-gun congressmen said December's massacre had prompted them to reconsider their views.