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An emotional US President Barack Obama has announced a series of measures to address gun violence, saying the "constant excuses for inaction" have to stop.
The executive orders, which bypass Congress, will widen background checks on buyers of firearms.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington
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President Obama is beginning his final year in office tackling what he's described as the greatest frustration of his presidency – gun control.
Standing in the East room of the White House surrounded by victims of gun violence, tears tracked down his cheeks as he recounted how the murder of schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut, had changed him - and that he had hoped it would change the country.
"From first graders in Newtown and from every family who never imagined that their loved one would be taken from their lives by a bullet from a gun. Every time I think about those kids – it gets me mad."
But a Republican-controlled Congress will not pass tougher legislation on gun control so Obama is using his executive powers to change what he can under his presidential authority.
"The gun lobby may be holding congress hostage right now but they cannot hold america hostage – we do not have to accept this carnage as the price of freedom"
His measures include forcing all gun sellers who operate online or at gun shows to conduct background checks on potential buyers. The FBI will hire more staff to process these.
States must now provide information on people disqualified from buying guns due to mental illness or domestic violence
Congress will be asked to invest $500m to improve access to mental healthcare and the government will explore new so-called smart technology to make guns safer.
The President's plans were endorsed by Mark Barden, who lost his 7 year old son,
Daniel in the Sandyhook massacre. He called for the nation's support.
"We can't do it alone and the president can't do it alone. The thing is every gun related death is preventable and we need your help. We need everybody engaged in this"
But the President's actions could be overturned if he's succeeded by a Republican. Already several GOP presidential candidates have said they will tear up the new measures on their first day in the White House. Kate Fisher, Washington