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House Democrats unveiled its task force's plan to crack down on gun violence today, calling on Congress to enact an assault weapons ban, outlaw high-capacity assault magazines, and put in place universal background checks for every firearm sale.

Fifty-five days after the Newtown elementary school shooting, the 12-member task force devised its package as an unabashed attempt to capitalize on growing frustration over the recurring trend of high-profile gun crimes throughout the country.

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) along with House Democrats hold a news conference in the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 19, 2012 on banning high-capacity clips.

House Democrats on Thursday unveiled a set of 14 gun-control proposals broadly similar to recommendations made by an Obama administration task force led by Vice President Biden after the December massacre of 20 schoolchildren in Newtown, Conn.

The congressional group, spearheaded by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), endorsed the same core proposals as the administration: a universal background check system for gun purchases, a ban on high-capacity magazines and a renewal of the lapsed assault weapons ban.

Correction: A previous version of this item incorrectly reported that Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) was an avid hunter and has close ties to gun rights groups. Price was a member of the House Democratic gun-control task force, but is not an avid hunter or closely aligned with gun rights organizations.

House Democrats unveiled a 15-point plan to address gun violence Thursday, capping weeks of deliberations within their caucus and with groups for and against stricter controls on the flow of weapons.

The House Democrats' Gun Violence Prevention Task Force released 15 principles today that it says will shape its recommendation for upcoming legislation. The principles include very broad ideas, such as to "support initiatives that prevent problems before they start," as well as more specific proposals, such as to "reinstate and strengthen a prospective federal ban on assault weapons."

U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano of El Monte is co-chair of the House Democratic Gun Violence Task Force.

House Democrats on a gun violence task force outlined their "policy principles" Thursday at their annual policy retreat in Leesburg, Virginia.

Congressman Mike Thompson of St. Helena, himself a hunter and gun owner, heads the task force. He says the recommendations both protect the right of "law-abiding individuals" to own firearms and make "schools, neighborhoods and communities safe."

Seventeen House Democrats have committed to bringing people affected by gun violence as guests to President Barack Obama's State of the Union next week.

The nascent effort began in January with a letter from five House Democrats, urging their colleagues to invite people whose lives had been influenced by gun violence to the Feb. 12 speech.

The task force established by House Democrats to explore gun legislation in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shooting called Thursday for renewing the assault weapons ban, outlawing high-capacity magazines, stricter federal penalties for gun trafficking, and requiring universal background checks.