What executive actions could President Obama take to strengthen gun control?

The White House will reportedly consider 19 recommendations for unilateral action

Vice President Joe Biden and President Obama
(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

This week, Vice President Joe Biden will present President Obama with a comprehensive set of recommendations for reducing gun violence in America, a move that is expected to spark the most vigorous national debate on gun control in recent memory. Biden's proposals will reportedly include three pillars — reinstitution of the assault weapons ban, implementation of universal background checks, and banning the sale of high-capacity magazines — that will require approval from Congress. He will also reportedly present 19 specific actions Obama can take through executive orders.

In the wake of the school massacre in Connecticut, gun-control advocates are optimistic that Congress will pass some measures to strengthen the country's gun-control laws. Universal background checks, for example, would appear to be the type of modest proposal that could garner bipartisan support. Even taking high-capacity magazines off the market is a possibility. However, reviving the assault weapons ban, which expired under George W. Bush, is universally recognized as being a heavy lift. The measure is expected to be opposed not only by the GOP-controlled House, but by many Democrats, possibly including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.).

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Ryu Spaeth

Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.