Flanked By Children, Obama Proposes Sweeping Gun-Control Laws

Washington: A month after the massacre of innocents in an elementary school sent shock waves through the U.S., President Barack Obama has unveiled the most sweeping gun control proposals in two decades.

Flanked by children who wrote him letters after December's shooting in Newtown, Connecticut which left 20 children and six teachers dead, he signed 23 executive actions, which do not require congressional approval. These actions are aimed at strengthening existing gun laws and take related steps on mental health and school safety.

The Democratic president also urged the Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, to restrict ammunition magazines to no more than 10 rounds, and to expand background checks to anyone buying a gun.

But Obama acknowledged his legislative push would encounter stiff opposition in Congress. "This will be difficult," he said.

"There will be pundits and politicians and special interest lobbyists publicly warning of a tyrannical, all-out assault on liberty -- not because that's true, but because they want to gin up fear or higher ratings or revenue for themselves.

"And behind the scenes, they'll do everything they can to block any common-sense reform and make sure nothing changes whatsoever.

While some of the steps he proposed are given little chance of winning congressional approval in the face of America's powerful gun lobby, Obama said all efforts must be made to reduce chronic gun violence in the country.