As was previewed yesterday, President Obama this morning launched a new task force, tasked with developing comprehensive proposals to address gun violence. The panel will be led by Vice President Biden, and will report next month on an administration agenda.
"This is not some Washington commission. This is not something where folks are going to be studying the issue for six months and publishing a report that gets read, and then pushed aside," the president said. "This is a team that has a very specific task: to pull together real reforms, right now."
With Biden at his side, Obama added, "I will use all the powers of this office to help advance efforts aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. It won't be easy, but that can't be an excuse not to try."
Update: Here's the transcript for today's event, including the Q&A with reporters.