Brian Blanco / Reuters

Gun shop customers shop for weapons as they listen to a live stream of a President Barack Obama's gun control proposals at the Bullet Hole gun shop in Sarasota, Fla. on Jan. 16.

President Barack Obama proposed a new assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks for all gun buyers on Wednesday in a bid to channel national outrage over the Newtown, Conn. school massacre into a new push for gun control.

"While there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil," Obama said at a mid-day announcement at the White House, "if there's even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there's even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try it." -- Read complete article.

The National Rifle Association, the country's most powerful gun lobby, released a statement Wednesday afternoon in response to the president's remarks.

"We look forward to working with Congress on a bi-partisan basis to find real solutions to protecting America's most valuable asset - our children. Attacking firearms and ignoring children is not a solution to the crisis we face as a nation," the NRA wrote. "Only honest, law-abiding gun owners will be affected and our children will remain vulnerable to the inevitability of more tragedy."

Related Links:

• Obama unveils sweeping new gun control proposals
  
• Obama's gun plans spark little enthusiasm with key lawmakers
• Stop gun violence, kids ask President Obama in handwritten letters

Slideshow: As it happens: Obama's fourth year in office

Robin Buckson / AP

The president's fourth year at the White House in pictures — follow along as it happens.

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