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US gun debate: Obama to unveil gun control proposals US gun debate: Obama to unveil gun control proposals
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is expected on Wednesday to unveil wide-ranging measures aimed at curbing gun violence.US President Barack Obama is expected on Wednesday to unveil wide-ranging measures aimed at curbing gun violence.
The proposals follow New York state's passage of gun restrictions considered the toughest in the nation. The proposals could echo measures, considered the toughest in the nation, passed in New York state on Tuesday.
Mr Obama has said he favours bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as broader background checks.Mr Obama has said he favours bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as broader background checks.
The US gun control debate has been revived by last month's mass shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut.The US gun control debate has been revived by last month's mass shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut.
There, a gunman shot dead 27 people, including 20 children and his own mother.There, a gunman shot dead 27 people, including 20 children and his own mother.
Stiff opposition aheadStiff opposition ahead
At 11:45 EST (16:45 GMT) on Wednesday, Mr Obama is expected to unveil the new proposals at the White House, flanked by children who wrote him letters after the Newtown shooting.At 11:45 EST (16:45 GMT) on Wednesday, Mr Obama is expected to unveil the new proposals at the White House, flanked by children who wrote him letters after the Newtown shooting.
Mr Obama has already acknowledged his proposals will face stiff opposition in Congress. But he is said to be weighing as many as 19 specific measures he could take through unilateral executive action.Mr Obama has already acknowledged his proposals will face stiff opposition in Congress. But he is said to be weighing as many as 19 specific measures he could take through unilateral executive action.
These could include tougher punishment of gun trafficking, aggressive prosecution of people who lie on background checks, and an end to limits on government research into gun violence.These could include tougher punishment of gun trafficking, aggressive prosecution of people who lie on background checks, and an end to limits on government research into gun violence.
The nation's top gun lobby, the National Rifle Association (NRA) says it will fight any attempts to limit access to guns or ammunition.The nation's top gun lobby, the National Rifle Association (NRA) says it will fight any attempts to limit access to guns or ammunition.
Mr Obama's expected proposals are the result of a task force led by Vice-President Joe Biden, who met the president on Monday and Tuesday to share the group's recommendations.Mr Obama's expected proposals are the result of a task force led by Vice-President Joe Biden, who met the president on Monday and Tuesday to share the group's recommendations.
Gun attitudes alteredGun attitudes altered
The Biden task force held meetings with gun control advocates and firearms owners' groups, as well as representatives of the entertainment industry.The Biden task force held meetings with gun control advocates and firearms owners' groups, as well as representatives of the entertainment industry.
The measure includes a tougher assault weapons ban, a law limiting high-capacity ammunition magazines, and provisions to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill people who make threats. On Tuesday, the New York state legislature comfortably passed the first gun control law since the shootings in Newtown. Supporters said the state's firearms restrictions were now the tightest in the nation.
Current owners of guns restricted under the law will have to register them with authorities. "Common sense can win," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said.
The Newtown shooting appears to have significantly altered Americans' openness to stricter gun control measures, according to a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/addressing-gun-control-takes-a-back-seat-to-economy-deficit-and-taxes/2013/01/14/c7f62e92-5ea2-11e2-90a0-73c8343c6d61_graphic.html" >Washington Post-ABC News poll. "You can overpower the extremists with intelligence and with reason and with common sense."
About half of Americans say they are now more supportive, with 58% specifically backing a ban on the most powerful rifles. The New York measures include a wider ban on assault weapons, a law limiting high-capacity ammunition magazines, and provisions to keep guns from mentally ill people who make threats.
Some gun owners will also have to register them with authorities.
According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Monday evening, about half of Americans say they have grown more supportive of gun control measures since the Newtown shooting.
The poll found 58% of respondents back a ban on the most powerful rifles.