Coverage of President Obama's gun violence reduction efforts begins on The Daily Circuit at 10:30. Obama is expected to speak at 10:45. Here's the latest AP story:

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's broad effort to reduce gun violence will include proposed bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines as well as more than a dozen executive orders aimed at circumventing congressional opposition to stricter gun control.

Obama was to announce the measures Wednesday at a White House event that will bring together law enforcement officials, lawmakers and children who wrote the president about gun violence following last month's shooting of 20 young students and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

The president also invited families of the Newtown victims and survivors of the horrific shooting to the White House Wednesday.

The broad package Obama will unveil will also include efforts to stop bullying and boost availability of mental health services.

But Congress would have to approve the bans on assault weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 bullets, along with a requirement for universal background checks on gun buyers. Some gun control advocates worry that opposition from Republicans and conservative Democrats, as well as the National Rifle Association, will be too great to overcome.

"We're not going to get an outright ban," Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., said of limits on assault weapons. Still, McCarthy, a leading voice in Congress in favor of gun control, said she would keep pushing for a ban and hoped Obama would as well.

White House officials, seeking to avoid setting up the president for failure, have emphasized that no single measure — even an assault weapons ban — would solve a scourge of gun violence across the country. But without such a ban or other sweeping, congressionally-approved measures, it's unclear whether executive actions alone could make any noticeable difference.

"It is a simple fact that there are limits to what can be done within existing law," White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday. "Congress has to act on the kinds of measures we've already mentioned because the power to do that is reserved by Congress."

Nearly six in 10 Americans want stricter gun laws in the aftermath of the shootings in Connecticut, with majorities favoring a nationwide ban on military-style, rapid-fire weapons and limits on gun violence depicted in video games, movies and TV shows, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed into law the toughest gun control law in the nation, and the first since the Connecticut school shootings. The law includes a tougher assault-weapons ban and provisions to try to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill people who make threats.

According to a lobbyist briefed Tuesday, Obama will present a three-part plan focused on gun violence, education and mental health. He'll call for:

— A focus on universal background checks. Right now some 40 percent of gun sales take place without background checks, including by private sellers at gun shows or over the Internet, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

— A ban on assault weapons and limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds or fewer.

— A federal statute to stop "straw man" purchases of guns and crack down on trafficking rings.

— More anti-bullying efforts; more training for teachers, counselors and principals; and funding for schools for more counselors and resource officers.

Read more

A discussion about Obama's gun violence plan is happening over at the MPR News Facebook page. Also here if you are not Facebook user.

Tune in to The Daily Circuit now for a discussion about gun violence leading up to Obama's announcement, scheduled for around 11:00 am. Click "listen now" in the blue box on the upper right of your screen...

A lot of people like to view current events through the prism of either The Simpsons or Seinfeld, but for politics, The West Wing is our art of choice. And for gun control, this clip is in play.



The clip has been taken apart before -- the meaning of "well regulated", for example. But Toby Ziegler raises a rhetorical question that perhaps should be explored. MAYBE Americans *are* more homicidal by nature?

The story in the New York Times that I cited on 5x8 this morning, provides a perfect example of differences in perspective w.r.t guns. It reported that there are so few women in Williston ND (the Oil Patch) that assaults are up and women can't even go for a walk anymore without being accosted. As a result, many of them are taking concealed carry classes with intent to arm themselves. That's not something that everyone has to do, but apparently you do in Williston. Others might argue you have to do the same thing on the south side of Chicago. But not everywhere. In the national debate over guns, do we use only our own neighborhoods and perspectives? If we didn't, would that change the debate/

Interesting to hear one of the callers to CSPAN coverage from Missouri, says he's a former gun shop owner, and owns 19 guns at home and says he's "totally for" executive orders. "You don't need those type of weapons," he said.

And now President Obama and VP Biden are beginning. VP Biden is first up.

So the entire presentation is being built strictly around Sandy Hook.

President Obama begins by saying "the issue of protecting our children shouldn't be a divisive one."The plan is clear here: it's about protecting or not protecting kids. Presents letters from kids who wrote to him.

Obama: "We should be thinking about our responsibility to them and shielding them from harm."

President says the mission is not only to reduce mass shooting, but cut the larger issue of violence. "In the month since 20 precious children and 6 brave adults" were taken from us, "more than 900 people have died at the hand of a gun. And everyday we wait that number will keep growing."

Proposals: More "resource officers," mental health professionals will know options for reporting threats of violence.

Obama: More scientific research into causes of violence. He's directing CDC to go ahead and study it. Many gun laws specifically prevent this sort of intelligence gathering.

Proposed legislation: Background checks for ANYONE buying a gun.

Proposal: 10-round limit for magazines and Congress should ban military-style "assault rifles."

There's your elusive Minnesota angle.Todd Jones nominated for gun czar

Statement from Sen. Franken:

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn) said he has not had time to review President Obama's gun control plan, but said he's optimistic Obama will get the support he needs from Congress.

"I do believe the President is going to get something done and something comprehensive done," Franken said at a press conference in Rochester this morning.

Franken said in the past, he's supported legislation limiting ammunition magazines.

"I'm going to look at what is in the [President's plan]. I sponsored, after Tuscon, restricting the capacity of these magazines. I want it to go down to 10 rounds in a magazine. And at that time, we couldn't even get that done. That simple thing...I think that most people agree that you don't need 30 rounds to bring down a deer.

"I think there has been a sea change in people's attitudes," since the Sandy Hooks Elementary Schools shooting last month, Franken said.

Obama: The only way we'll be able to change is if their... membership says "this time it must be different." The president takes on the NRA. "The only way we can change is if the American people demand it... and that doesn't mean just from certain parts of the country." He's talking about your Red State, America.

"If Americans of every background stand up and say, 'enough,' ... that change will come. Not sure what constitutes "enough Americans". 60% is all Obama has right now.

Obama: "Along with freedom to live our lives as we will, comes the obligation to allow others to do the same."

The president's presentation is somewhat disjointed. He seems to be searching for anecdotes. I'm not sure this isn't intentional.

Here's a story on the federal appeals court overturning the Florida law. But the provision in today's proposal is pretty minor since there's already a system in place to address the question -- the judicial system.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's response to the Obama plan:

“I am encouraged by President Obama’s thoughtful and determined response to the continuing gun violence we see in our communities. The President’s proposals today will effectively address many of the areas lacking in our current gun laws, including universal background checks and bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.
“There is no single factor that will reduce gun violence in our communities. Mental health care and societal perceptions of gun violence are very real contributing factors and must be dealt with. But we do a disservice to all those who have been killed, injured, or affected by these heartbreaking events by ignoring a major component of the problem.
“President Obama has my full support behind the proposals he unveiled today, and I urge both parties of Congress to come together and comprehensively address these issues that we can no longer afford to ignore."

Interesting to note that Mpls Mayor R.T. Rybak was in the audience at the White House today, according to a pool report. Anyone still think he's not got an eye on Washington after his mayoral gig?

Rep. Keith Ellison is among a handful of Democrats encouraging their colleagues to bring a constituent "who has been impacted by gun violence" to be their guest at the President's State of the Union address on February 12th.

“It is vital that we include the American public and give a voice to our constituents as we search for comprehensive solutions to this problem,” said the group in a letter to members of the Democratic Caucus. “In December, President Obama declared that addressing gun-related violence would be a ‘central issue’ as he opens his second term… It is our hope that their presence in the House Gallery will send a strong message that it is long past time to act.”

Thank you everyone for joining in on the live blog today. I am sorry we didn't get to all of your comments. You are welcome to join the conversation about the President's gun proposals on Today's Question or on the MPR News Facebook page.