President Barack Obama continued his push for tougher gun legislation in the final weekly address of his first term in office Saturday.

"My administration has taken a series of actions right away, from strengthening our background check system, to helping schools hire more resource officers if they want them, to directing the Centers for Disease Control to study the best ways to reduce gun violence," the president said. "But the truth is, making a real and lasting difference also requires Congress to act."

Based on the recommendations of a task force led by Vice President Joe Biden, the president urged Congress to pass universal background checks and restore a ban on military-style assault weapons.

He also called for a 10-round clip limit and tougher penalties for those who privately sell guns to criminals.