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Representatives of hunting and sportsman groups were scheduled to arrive at the White House before noon for a meeting with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who has been directed by the president to come up with a package of legislation and executive action. Mr. Obama has publicly backed a renewed ban on assault-style weapons, restrictions on high-capacity magazines and expanded background checks for gun purchases.

The top lobbyist for the N.R.A. will arrive for a second meeting later in the afternoon that will also include other groups representing gun owners. The meetings will be a preview of an intense clash between the administration and opponents of tougher gun control measures.

In a statement Thursday morning, the N.R.A. said it was willing to have discussions about "reasonable proposals and plans," but would listen to "real Americans all over the country that are hoping the N.R.A. is not going to compromise on any of the principles of the Second Amendment."

"We're willing to listen," the N.R.A. statement said, according to Politico.

In comments to supporters of gun control measures on Wednesday, Mr. Biden said the Obama administration was willing to listen, too. But he pledged that the president would not be dissuaded from proposals that would help curb violence and prevent more mass killings.

"The president is going to act," Mr. Biden said on Wednesday. "There is executive action that can be taken. We haven't decided what that is yet."

The most high-profile and contentious issue facing the president on the gun issue is likely to be the question of whether to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, which was initially passed in 1994 but expired several years ago.

A push to build public support for that effort is being led by gun control groups, including one led by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and a new one formed by Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head during a meeting with constituents in her district.

But the effort will face intense opposition in Congress from the well-financed N.R.A. and its affiliated organizations. In particular, the lobbying will be aimed at Democratic and Republican lawmakers in rural districts where support for gun rights is strong.

In an interview with Brooklyn GOP Radio on Tuesday night, David Keene, the president of the N.R.A., accused Mr. Obama and Mr.Biden of being "disingenuous" in their efforts to reach out to gun owners and others in the gun debate.

"I think that they've seen this as an opportunity to go after the Second Amendment, which they've wanted to do for years, if not decades, and I think they're going to do everything they can to strip Americans of their right to keep and bear arms," Mr. Keene told the radio station.

Mr. Obama has said he will not simply seek new restrictions on guns and ammunition, but will also look for proposals to address concerns about mental health reporting and the impact of violent images in American culture.

The vice president is also expected to meet Thursday evening with representatives of the movie, television and video game industries. Some lawmakers have said they want to find ways to address the prevalence of violent images in games and movies that are available to children.

Among those at the meetings on Thursday will be a representative of Walmart, the nation's largest gun retailer. David Tovar, the vice president for corporate communications at the company, said on Wednesday that the retailer had been "very purposeful about striking the right balance between serving hunters and sportsmen and ensuring that we sell firearms responsibly."

But a coalition of liberal organizations on Wednesday sent a letter to Walmart's chief executive asking the company to stop selling assault weapons.

"Assault weapons of all brands and models continue to adorn your shelves, from Sig Sauer M400s to Colt LE6920s," the letter says. "We know the horrific capacity of these weapons to wreak havoc on our communities because we have witnessed it firsthand. They have no place in our streets and in our homes, and we strongly insist that you honor your 2004 pledge to ensure they have no place in your stores either."

The groups, including SumOfUs.org, MomsRising, Courage Campaign and Change.org, will present petitions signed by almost 250,000 people, according to a spokesman for the organizations.