President Biden recently stated that the Second Amendment was “not absolute”. He pleaded with Congress to pass gun control legislation he called “commonsense”. This included a ban on assault weapons, background checks and limitations on magazine capacity. Speaking from the White House’s Cross Hall, the president stated that Americans should not be able to access guns without their consent.
Biden said, “This isn’t about taking away anybody’s rights. It’s about protecting the children. It’s about protecting families. It’s about protecting entire communities. It’s about protecting our rights to go to school, grocery store, and church without fear of being shot or killed.
After a spate of mass shootings in New York, Texas and Oklahoma in recent weeks, the president made these remarks.
A gunman shot and killed four people at the Natalie Medical Building, St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa, Okla.
Salvador Ramos, an alleged gunman, killed 19 children and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, last week.
Officials say that 18-year old Payton Gendron opened fire on a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York, killing 10 and injuring at least three more. Authorities have stated that eleven victims were Black while two of the victims were White.
Pointing to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed guns were “the number one killer of American children”, the president said.
Since months, the president has been urging Congress to pass gun control legislation. This would include background checks for all gun sales and ban the sale or possession of unserialized guns, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, as well as gun manufacturer liability protection.
Biden’s 2023 budget proposal urged Congress to provide funding for his comprehensive strategy to reduce gun violence and make our communities safer.
Biden stated that he supports bipartisan efforts, which include a small group of Democrats as well as Republican senators who are trying to find a way.
According to the president, he “has been in this fight for gun control for a long time.”
Biden pointed to the 2022 Midterm Elections and said that he believed “the majority” of you would act to make this issue central in your vote.
Biden’s speech comes as Congress debates the “Protecting Our Kids Act”, a broad piece of gun control legislation. Republicans claim it is unconstitutional, but Democrats argue that it is common sense.
These bills include proposals to increase the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic gun from 18 to 21 years old, a ban on high capacity magazines, a registry for bump stock and many other items.
Thursday’s House committee meeting saw Democrats rail against the NRA, Republicans and assault weapons, as well as the Senate. They also expressed outrage at the fact that the U.S. has not enacted stricter gun laws despite recent mass shootings.
Next week, the legislation and a bill on red-flag laws will be up for a vote in the House.
However, House-passed gun legislation will not make it to the Senate. The Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold allows Republicans to have their say on any legislation.
A dozen senators representing both parties are currently participating in discussions about possible legislation that would have a much smaller impact than any legislation coming from the House. Federal legislation that would encourage states to adopt red flag laws and expand background checks are two of the topics on the table.
