A time for US gun-control

Obama makes biggest gun-control push in decades

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping and expansive package of gun violence reduction proposals, a month after the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting that killed 26 people including 20 schoolchildren.

"In the month since 20 precious children and six brave adults were violently taken from us at Sandy Hook Elementary, more than 900 of our fellow Americans have reportedly died at the end of a gun -- 900 in the past month," said Obama at a White House event.

He was joined by gun-control advocates and children from around the country who wrote him letters in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre to express concerns over gun violence and school safety.

In the presence of an applauding crowd, the president signed 23 executive actions, which enable the White House to act immediately without congressional action. The measures include helping schools to hire police officers and increasing research on gun violence. more

Biden butts heads with the NRA

US Vice-President Joe Biden butted heads with the powerful National Rifle Association on in his drive to reduce US gun violence, drawing complaints from the lobby group that the White House is trying to limit gun rights. more

White House considers far broader approach to gun control: report

The White House is weighing a far broader approach to curbing US gun violence than just reinstating a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. more

NY State enacts toughest gun control bill

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed into law one of the nation's toughest gun-control measures and the first to be enacted since the mass shooting last month at an elementary school in neighboring Connecticut. more

Major school shootings in US since 1999

- April 2, 2012: In the state of California, a man killed seven people and wounded three others at Oikos University in Oakland.

- Feb 14, 2008: In the state of Illinois, a gunman broke into Northern Illinois University and opened fire randomly at more than 160 students and teachers, killing six people and wounding more than 10 others before shooting himself dead.

- April 16, 2007: In Virginia, a 23-year-old student from South Korea went on a shooting spree at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, killing 32 people and wounding 15 others before killing himself. It was the deadliest campus shooting in US history.

- Oct 2, 2006: In the state of Pennsylvania, a gunman killed five girl students at an Amish school before killing himself.

- March 21, 2005: In the state of Minnesota, a 16-year-old student shot dead five students, a security guard and a teacher at Red Lake High School before killing himself during a shootout with police. more