U.S. President Barack Obama is announcing a $500-million package of executive actions and legislative proposals aimed at reducing gun violence a month after a shooting in Connecticut killed 20 school children.
    
The package includes a call on Congress to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity gun magazines, and it would close loopholes in the background check system for gun sales.
    
Obama also is signing 23 executive actions, which require no congressional approval, including several aimed at improving access to data for background checks. A presidential memorandum will instruct the Centers for Disease Control to research causes and prevention of gun violence.
    
In addition, Obama will nominate Todd Jones as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jones currently is the acting director of the agency.

(The Associated Press)