President Barack Obama has unveiled a new law proposal aimed at limiting gun violence in the US.
The gun control law must now be approved by Congress which may be unwilling to accept unpopular restrictions on gun ownership.
In a public announcement at the White House, President Obama said: “There is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence and no piece of legislation will prevent every tragedy or act of evil.
“But if there’s just one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there’s just one life that can be saved, then we have an obligation to try it.”
Some of the main legislative proposals backed by Obama include requiring criminal background checks on all gun sales (including private sales), banning military-style assault weapons, limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds and strengthening penalties for gun trafficking.
