WASHINGTON--Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), a leading congressional gun control advocate, is urging President Barack Obama to use his executive power--and his bully pulpit--to curb gun violence. On CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, McCarthy told Candy Crowley Obama needs to issue an"executive order to tighten up the laws that are out there."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), another leader in movement to curb gun violence, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" "I'm going to introduce in the Senate, and the same bill will be introduced in the House -- a bill to ban assault weapons."

McCarthy said she will be working with Feinstein on the legislation. After the 1994 ban expired ten years after it became law, Congress has refused to renew the assault weapon ban.

My column on Obama's reluctance to deal with gun control issues is HERE