President Joe Biden has signed an executive order aimed at increasing the number of background checks required for firearm sales, expanding support for "red flag laws" that aim to prevent sales to dangerous people, and promoting the safe storage of guns.
He expressed his support for gun control in a speech delivered in Monterey Park, California, where 11 people were killed in a mass shooting in January.
He also called on Congress to renew the federal ban on assault weapons and urged lawmakers to tackle legislation to eliminate gun manufacturer immunity from liability.
Biden's executive order is seen as a comprehensive policy and the strongest step he can take without Congress passing additional gun control laws.
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that will increase the number of background checks on firearm sales and reinforce support for red flag laws.
This executive order aims to take the US "as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation.
" The order also promotes the safe storage of guns and directs agencies to address gun manufacturer liability.
In his speech delivered in California, Biden expressed his support for gun control and urged Congress to renew the federal ban on assault weapons.
Republican Florida Representative Greg Steube has introduced a bill to allow for congressional staff to carry legally carried firearms while travelling to or from the US Capitol for self-defence reasons.
In contrast, Biden has called on Congress to eliminate gun manufacturer immunity from liability, and emphasised that assault weapons are weapons of war that have no place in a civilian population.