Mr Obama told reporters inside the Oval Office on Monday he plans to roll out a series of initiatives over the next several days.
The President announced last week he would take steps to pass unilateral gun control measures, calling the issue a major piece of "unfinished business" in his time at the White House.
Gun rights supporters, including several Republicans on Capitol Hill, have accused the President of "executive overreach".
In a statement, Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said: "While we don't yet know the details of the plan, the President is at minimum subverting the legislative branch, and potentially overturning its will.
"This is a dangerous level of executive overreach, and the country will not stand for it."
Mr Obama met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch, FBI Director James Comey and other top law enforcement officials on Monday to discuss detailed measures the President can take without congressional approval.
The President said the "recommendations are well within my legal authority" and they are also initiatives that the "overwhelming majority of American people, including gun owners, support and believe in".
He added: "Although we have to be very clear that this is not going to solve every violent crime in this county, it's not going to prevent every mass shooting ... it will potentially save lives in this country."
Mr Obama's executive actions are expected to include an expansion on background checks on gun sales involving unlicensed sellers, according to US media reports.
Congress rejected similar proposals from Mr Obama in 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment