US gun debate: Obama unveils gun control proposals

President Barack Obama has unveiled sweeping gun control proposals, setting the stage for a showdown with firearms rights advocates.
Mr Obama called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and wider background checks on gun buyers.
The Democratic president also signed 23 executive-order measures, which do not require congressional approval.
Mr Obama said gun-control reforms could not wait any longer, after last month's school massacre in Connecticut.
"While there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil," he said, "if there's even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there's even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try."
Mr Obama unveiled the new proposals at the White House on Wednesday, flanked by children who wrote him letters after December's Newtown school shooting, which left 26 dead.
'Tough battle'
During the press conference, the president urged Congress:
to ban "military-style" assault weapons such as those used in several recent mass shootings
impose limits on ammunition magazines to 10 rounds
introduce background checks on all gun sales; currently private sales and some sales at gun shows are exempt
pass a ban on possession and sale of armour-piercing bullets
introduce new gun-trafficking laws
Finally approve the appointment of the head of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Mr Obama added he would sign a directive so that government agencies can conduct research into gun crime
Among the unilateral steps Mr Obama pledged to take was to end a ban on gun-violence research by a prominent federal agency.
Mr Obama acknowledged his legislative push would encounter stiff opposition in Congress.
"This will be difficult," he said. "I will put everything I've got into this."
The new proposals are the result of meetings between a task force led by Vice-President Joe Biden and groups from across the political spectrum, White House aides said.
Mr Biden met gun control and firearms rights advocates, entertainment and video game industry figures, parents of shooting victims and law enforcement officials.