President Barack Obama is expected to announce in the coming days a new executive action with the goal of expanding background checks on gun sales, people familiar with White House planning said.<br />Described as "imminent," the set of executive actions would fulfill a promise by the President to take further unilateral steps the White House says could help curb gun deaths.<br />Plans for the action are not yet complete, and those familiar with the process warn that unforeseen circumstances could delay an announcement.<br />But gun control advocates are expecting the new actions to be revealed next week, ahead of Obama's annual State of the Union address, set for January 12.<br />The White House wouldn't comment directly on the exact timing or content of Obama's executive orders.<br />White House spokesman Eric Schultz said that the President expected a set of recommendations on unilateral action to arrive at the beginning of the year.
