In an emotional speech on national television, United States President Joe Biden called on lawmakers to pass gun legislation to curb gun violence in the country, a week after 19 children were shot dead by a gunman in their school.
“Enough, Enough,” President Joe Biden exclaimed over and over as he delivered an impassioned address to the nation imploring Congress to take action against gun violence after mass shootings he said had turned schools, supermarkets and other everyday places into “killing fields”.
If legislators fail to act, he warned, voters should use their outrage to turn it into a central issue in November’s midterm elections.
Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
The President called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and short of that, he said the age to purchase them should be raised from 18 to 21.
He called for the implementation of safe storage laws and personal liability for not locking up a gun.
‘Let us finally do something’
“For God’s sake, how much more carnage are we willing to accept?” Biden asked.
Biden urged lawmakers to strengthen background checks and pass red flag laws that would allow law enforcement to take guns away from people with mental illness.
He said that such laws could have prevented some of the recent shootings in the United States.
The President cited a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center that guns were the leading cause of death among children.
“Over the past two decades, more school-aged children have died from guns than on-duty police officers and active-duty military combined,” Biden said.
As a senator, Biden was the author of the assault-weapons ban which was in place for a decade until 2004.
But in today’s political climate, the President has few realistic avenues to pursue gun control without congressional action.
Biden Cabinet members call for “common sense gun laws”
Members of Biden’s Cabinet have spoken out in favor of congressional action to enact “common sense gun laws” in recent days.
“We, of course, hold the people of Tulsa in our hearts, but we, of course, reaffirm our commitment to passing common sense gun safety laws,” Vice President Harris said at the top of remarks at an event highlighting federal student loan cancelation for the students of the for-profit Corinthian Colleges chain.
“No more excuses. Thoughts and prayers are important but we need Congress to act.”
Republican opposition to tougher gun laws
Republican lawmakers, however, have largely resisted together gun laws, with Republicans in the US House of Representatives objecting to an attempt by Democrats to impose new limits on gun purchases.
The bill would raise the minimum age for buying certain guns to 21 from 18 and clamp down on weapons trafficking. It would also restrict large-capacity ammunition feeding devices.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Biden’s Democrats – who hold half of the seats – will need s1upport from some Republicans to pass gun control legislation.
A bill needs 60 votes out of 100 to overcome filibustering, meaning that with the current composition of the Senate any new law will need some Republican support to pass the Congress’ upper house.
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