Obama vows for new policies to reduce gun violence

NEWTOWN, Conn. (WTNH) -- In light of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, President Obama vowed today to send Congress new policy proposals for reducing gun violence.

President Obama says he wants real reforms, right now. He's calling on Congress to vote on an assault weapons ban, a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips and to close the gun show loopholes so that everyone goes through a background check.

Vice President Joe Biden will head the cross-agency panel and they will look beyond gun control.

"We're gonna need to work on making access to mental health care at least as easy as access to a gun. We're gonna need to look more closely at a culture that all too often glorifies guns and violence," President Obama.

The National Rifle Association has scheduled a press conference for Friday to respond to the Newtown shooting. The President hopes they will back his plan.

"The NRA is an organization that has members that are mothers and fathers and I would expect that they've been impacted by this as well and hopefully they'll do some self-reflection," President Obama said.

In our capitol, state leaders are also taking a closer look at possible preventive measures. Lawmakers hammered out a bipartisan agreement on the budget revisions late Friday night as the situation unfolded in Newtown.

Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams says he realized, regardless of the economy, we need to find the money to protect our schools.

Sandy Hook had a security system but a glass entrance so Adam Lanza was able to shoot through to get inside.

Williams says, entrances may need to be bricked over. Legislators say, they may look at several different possibilities to pay for added protections.

"Some have suggested that we look at increasing taxes on guns or ammunition but also increase taxes on violent video games," Sen. Williams said.