The White House has said that President Barack Obama is "actively supportive" of efforts in the US Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Tuesday that Obama would also support legislation to close the gun show "loophole", which allows people to buy guns from private dealers without background checks.
The president has pledged to address gun violence in the coming weeks following Friday's deadly shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that killed 26 people, including 20 children and six adults.
Patty Culhane reports.