President Barack Obama is to widen background checks on buyers of firearms to tighten gun laws in the United States.

The plans will be announced on Tuesday by the President, despite opposition from congress to new gun laws.

All sellers, who operate online or at gun shows, will be forced to conduct background checks on potential buyers.

But republican presidential candidate, Rand Paul, said that he will fight the action of the executive “tooth and nail”.

Many of his republican rivals also said that they will erase the measures “on day one” if they win the White House.

But President Obama said that his new measures would be within his legal authority and consistent with the second amendment, which grants Americans the right to bear arms.

Earlier on Monday, the President heard recommendations from Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, FBI Director, James Comey and other top law enforcement officials.

He told the BBC last year that his failure to pass effective gun laws was his biggest regret.