'We do not have to accept this carnage as the price of freedom': Obama unveils new gun control laws in emotional speech

Excuses for inaction on gun control in the US "no longer suffice," President Barack Obama has warned, as he gave a tearful speech unveiling details of new restrictions on dealing and ownership.

Insisting he was looking to honour the Second Amendment's right to bear arms while reducing gun-related deaths, he said his proposals only targeted irresponsible owners and those with lengthy criminal records who wanted to use them illegally.

During a tearful speech and surrounded by the families of gun death victims, he said he wanted an "open discussion" with all parties and was not looking to "score points".

"We do have to feel a sense of urgency about it," he said, to applause from those gathered.

"People are dying and the constant excuses for inaction no longer do. No longer suffice. That's why we're here today - not to debate the last mass shooting, but to do something to try to prevent the next one."

"We do not have to accept this carnage as the price of freedom," he added.

More than 30,000 people in America are killed by guns every year through suicides, domestic violence, gang shoot-outs, accidents, he said.

He blasted critics for blocking previous "common sense" attempts and for accusing him of trying to impose "mass confiscation", arguing that a requirement for comprehensive background checks was not the same as taking guns off people.

"Maybe we can't save everybody, but we can save some," he said.

"Just as we cannot stop all traffic accidents, we take steps to try to reduce traffic accidents."

Opening by listing some of the mass shootings during his time in the White House, Mr Obama strongly referenced the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School three years ago throughout his speech, in which 20 children and six school staff were shot to death when a gunman stormed the building.

At one point, he broke down as he mentioned the victims and their families.

"Every time I think about those kids, it makes me mad," he said, wiping away tears.

"And by the way, it happens every day on the streets of Chicago."

Bereaved father Mark Barden gave Mr Obama's introduction, detailing how on December 14, 2012, his seven-year-old son Daniel was among the 26 shot to death at the school.

Since then, "far too many more lives have been lost" to gun violence, he added.

"As a nation, we have to do better. We are better. We're better than this," he said.

"Every gun-related death is preventable."

Among the proposals announced were:

• Anybody in the business of selling firearms must get a licence and conduct background checks, or face criminal prosecution

• This will apply to the internet and gun shows

• Background checks will be expanded to violent criminals who try to buy dangerous weapons via trusts and corporations

• Background checks system will become more efficient, with more people hired to carry them out

• 200,000 more ATF agents and investigators to monitor current gun ownership

• Better protection of domestic violence victims

• More action to help those with mental health issues

• Technological advances to make guns safer to help prevent accidents and track lost or stolen weapons