WASHINGTON (December 20, 2012)--Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday the Obama administration is "absolutely committed" to curbing gun violence in the United States and will push to tighten gun laws in response to last week's schoolhouse massacre in Connecticut.

Biden said he and Mr. Obama believe "even if we can only save one life, we have to take action."

Biden, a longtime gun control advocate, is overseeing the response to Friday's killing of 20 schoolchildren and six adults in Newtown, Conn.

Mr. Obama set a January deadline for the group, which is considering changes such as reinstating a ban on military-style assault weapons, closing loopholes that let gun buyers skirt background checks and restricting high-capacity ammunition clips.

Biden met Thursday with Cabinet members and law enforcement officials from around the country.