Monday, January 14, 2013

President Barack Obama says he's reviewing a list of proposals from Vice President Joe Biden about how to reduce gun violence and expects to present specifics later this week.

The president says stronger background checks, a meaningful ban on assault weapons and limits on high-capacity ammunition magazines are all ideas he thinks make sense. He says he's not sure how many of those measures can pass Congress.

President Obama says in a news conference in the East Room of the White House that he expects Congress to set aside politics and focus on common-sense steps that can make a difference.

The president asked Biden to lead a task force on ways to reduce violence after the December massacre in Newtown, Conn., that killed 27 people -- mostly children.