Continuing his push for gun control Friday, President Obama met with former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband at the White House to discuss executive actions to restrict gun ownership.

The White House said Mr. Obama, Ms. Giffords and husband Mark Kelly “discussed what more can be done to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them, including ongoing efforts by the administration to identify additional actions within existing authorities.”

Ms. Giffords survived a shooting in 2011 in which the gunman killed six others and wounded a total of 13 at a shopping center in Arizona where she was meeting constituents. Senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett also attended the White House meeting.

In the wake of the mass shooting in California this week that the FBI is now investigating as an act of terrorism, the White House is renewing its campaign to impose more gun regulations, saying it could even help to prevent terrorist attacks.

The administration is exploring executive actions that Mr. Obama can take to restrict gun ownership, including expanding background checks for gun purchases online and at gun shows, and detailing which gun dealers should be considered “high volume.”

White House press secretary Josh Earnest blasted congressional Republicans Friday for blocking a move that would allow the attorney general to halt sale or transfer of a gun or explosive to a suspected or known terrorist.

“We can do that without undermining the basic rights of law-abiding Americans,” Mr. Earnest said. “But once again, Republicans blocked that effort.”

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