President Obama has announced plans to take unilateral action on gun control in the U.S., saying that he intends to use his executive powers as president, bypassing Congress who he says have failed to address the problem. Experts have warned that Obama’s drastic actions could cause civil unrest amongst much of the country. BBC News reports: But Mr Obama told Americans that he had received too many letters from parents, and teachers, and children, to sit around and do nothing. “We know that we can’t stop every act of violence,” the president said. “But what if we tried to stop even one? What if Congress did something – anything – to protect our kids from gun violence?” He has admitted that his inability to win Congressional backing for what he called “common sense gun laws” was the greatest frustration of his presidency. The BBC’s Laura Bicker in Washington says the president could use his executive authority in several areas, including expanding new background check requirements for buyers who purchase weapons from high-volume dealers. However he is likely to face stiff opposition to his plans, our correspondent says. The National Rifle Association has already launched a video series attacking gun control activists. [...]