Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said she would pursue such a requirement by executive action if elected and Administration officials revised their stance.
Obama said he was moving unilaterally because Congress had failed to address the growing problem of gun violence. "I get too many letters from parents, and teachers, and kids to sit around and do nothing."
While beefing up background checks has strong support, Obama's actions also come as Americans have grown more fearful of of terrorist strikes and are expressing an openness to having ordinary citizens carry guns.
In Texas, more than 100 gun supporters rallied with handguns on their hips to celebrate a new "open carry" law. The stand in Texas - known until now as one of the more restrictive states - is a sign of a wider debate in election year. Texas is the latest state to effectively return to 19th-century gun laws - allowing a million individuals who have passed a safety course and who hold a concealed handgun permit to openly carry their weapons for the first time since 1871.
But the law bans guns in a variety of places including schools, bars, sports arenas and secure areas of airports.
- Daily Telegraph, Washington Post
