Obama vows action on gun violence

US President Barack Obama pledged to put his “full weight” behind a legislative package next year aimed at tackling gun violence, recalling the school gun rampage that killed 20 young pupils as the worst day of his presidency.

In an interview with NBC television’s Meet The Press that aired today, Mr Obama voiced scepticism about the proposal by the National Rifle Association, the leading gun rights lobby group, to place armed guards at schools in the aftermath of the December 14 deadly assault at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.