Obama making first trip to pitch for gun proposals, plans Minneapolis visit Monday

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will travel to Minneapolis Monday to pitch his proposals for reducing gun violence.

It will be the president's first trip outside of Washington centered on the gun proposals, which include a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as universal background checks. Obama unveiled his plan in response to the horrific shooting of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

While in Minneapolis, the White House says Obama will meet with local leaders and law enforcement officials. Some of those officials have been part of discussions with Obama on ways to curb gun violence.

One of those officials, and Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek, has been leading a group of Minnesota sheriffs pushing stronger background checks in the state.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.