"MR. CARNEY: He does. And I’ve said that before from the podium in the last week, that he does support renewing the assault weapons ban. I think what I’ve noted in the past, and what I noted here, is that there has been reluctance by Congress to pass that renewal...
MR. CARNEY: Well, I’m not going to grade possibilities here. I think the President believes that we should -- with Congress where possible, but administratively where allowed -- take measures that enhance security by making it harder for those who should not have these weapons under existing law from obtaining them, but also protect our Second Amendment rights. And he’ll continue to do that.
So an executive order to reinstate the AWB is not out of the question.
For the full transcript of the news conference following the shooting at the Sikh temple from which this quote was taken, go to Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 8/6/2012 | The White House