Majority of Americans support President Barack Obama's new gun control executive actions that aim to strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases and enforcement of current laws.

However, only less than half are optimistic that these will be effective to reduce gun-related deaths, according to a CNN/ORC poll.

The survey, conducted from Jan. 5 to 6 among 1,027 Americans, showed that 67 percent of Americans are in favour of Obama's new executive actions while 32 percent oppose them.

The background checks cover guns purchased at gun shows or online.

A total of 85 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of independents and 51 percent of Republicans, 57 percent of gun owners and 56 percent of rural residents favour the new measures

People who strongly favour the changes outnumber those who oppose them by a 2 to 1 margin: 43 percent are strongly in favour while 21 percent are strongly opposed, CNN said.

In comparison, a Quinnipiac University poll last December found that 89 percent of Americans favoured "a law requiring background checks on people buying guns at gun shows or online." The President's new actions narrow the gun-show loophole but not entirely close it.

However, almost 6 in 10 Americans said the new measures will not be effective to decrease the number of gun-related deaths. The doubters include 75 percent of gun owners.

A total of 67 percent of Democrats said the changes will be effective while 78 percent of Republicans said these will be ineffective.

Among women, 47 said they will be effective while 50 said they will not.

About 57 percent of those who support Obama's changes think they will reduce gun-related deaths.

The poll also showed that 53 percent said they disapprove of Obama's handling of gun policy while 43 percent approve.

Meanwhile, Obama admitted on Thursday that he has never owned a gun in his life.

Obama held a televised town hall meeting on CNN two days after he announced the 10 gun control measures, WND reported.

He said fears that he was trying to take away guns from Americans are "imaginary fiction."

"I think it's useful to keep in mind I've been president for over seven years, and gun sales don't seem to have suffered during that time," said Obama. "They've gone up. I've been very good for gun manufacturers."

The President added, "The way it is described, is that we are trying to take away everybody's guns. Our position is consistently mischaracterised. If you listen to the rhetoric, it is so over-the-top, it is so overheated."

He said while there are responsible gun owners, there are communities where a 13-year-old can buy a gun as easily as purchasing a book.

"I respect the Second Amendment. I respect the right to bear arms. I respect the people who want a gun for self-protection, for hunting for sportsmanship," he said.