Flanked by family members of people killed by gun violence, Mr Obama said constant excuses for inaction "no longer suffice".
The President, who has made strengthening gun laws a central focus heading into his final year in office, accused the gun lobby of taking Congress hostage, but said "they cannot hold America hostage."
"We can find ways to reduce gun violence consistent with the Second Amendment," Mr Obama said in reference to Americans' constitutional right to bear arms.
The President announced four initiatives on Tuesday that he said will help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.
Among them are requirements for more gun sellers to obtain licenses and more gun buyers to undergo background checks.
"We've created a system in which dangerous people are allowed to play by a different set of rules," Mr Obama said in an address in the White House East Room.
"A violent felon can buy the exact same weapon over the internet with no background check, no questions asked."
Mr Obama's expansion on background checks will require anyone selling a gun, whether at a gun show or over the internet, to conduct checks on potential buyers.
The President also outlined a plan to ask Congress for $500m to expand access to treatment for mental illness across the country.
He also announced expansions on government research into gun safety measures, particularly "smart gun technology".
"If we can make it possible to unlock a phone with a fingerprint, why can't we do it with guns?" he said.
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