White House readies gun-control plan as more children laid to rest

NEWTOWN, Connecticut (REUTERS) - The White House revealed the first steps of a gun-control plan on Wednesday as the United States (US) grieved for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in another wave of funerals.

President Barack Obama's initiative addressed national outrage over the shootings in Connecticut, which have prompted longtime gun-rights supporters to reconsider their positions and a major private equity firm to put its gunmaking business up for sale.

The funerals scheduled for Wednesday included those of four children, a teacher and the principal of the school stormed by 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza on Friday. After killing his mother at home, Lanza drove to the school and used a semi-automatic assault rifle to kill 20 children and six women.

Mr Obama tapped Vice-President Joe Biden to lead an effort to craft policies to reduce gun violence. Specific steps Mr Biden recommends will be unveiled in Mr Obama's State of the Union address, which is typically given towards the end of January, but Mr Obama indicated some priorities.