Bloomberg Aides to Join White House on Crafting Assault Weapons Ban Plan

A White House gun task force formed last month by President Barack Obama and headed by Vice President Joe Biden will be working closely with aides of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to define broader initiatives beyond an assault weapons ban, The New York Post reported.

Bloomberg, known widely for his support of an assault weapons ban, for years has called on Congress to stiffen gun laws. In 2011, he hired licensed private investigators to conduct a series of online purchases to determine the difficulty of buying guns online without a proper background check - the first-ever national investigation into illegal online gun sales.

The investigation found that more than 60 percent of online private sellers are willing to commit a felony and sell firearms to people who likely could not pass a background check.

The latest round of White House initiatives will include requiring universal background checks, a national database and tracking system for the movement and sale of weapons, stronger mental health checks and stiffer penalties for carrying guns near schools.

Once finalized, the task force hopes to work around the National Rifle Association with major gun retailers, such as Wal-Mart, on how to best position and market the plan.

Obama has asked to see the finalized package by the end of the month.