WATCH: President Obama unveils new gun-control proposals

The president also signed 23 executive orders on gun violence

President Obama signs an executive order on gun control on Jan. 16
(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

On Wednesday, President Obama unveiled a comprehensive slate of gun-control proposals, in what is widely seen as the most expansive effort by the executive branch in recent memory to reduce gun violence in America. As expected, Obama called on Congress to implement universal background checks for guns; reinstate a federal ban on military-style assault weapons; and set a 10-round limit for gun magazines. With a group of children standing behind him, Obama said, "While reducing gun violence is a complicated challenge, protecting our children from harm shouldn't be a divisive one." He added, "The most important changes we can make depend on congressional action. They need to bring these proposals up for a vote."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Ryu Spaeth

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