President Joe Biden has renewed his call for Congress to ban assault rifles, specifically highlighting the AR-15 model used in the recent failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
The incident occurred during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear after being fired from a nearby rooftop.
“An AR-15 was used in the shooting of Donald Trump. This was the assault weapon that killed so many others, including children. It’s time to outlaw them,” Biden declared at a Las Vegas convention.
This plea came as Biden returned to the campaign trail following a brief pause after the shooting. During this pause, his campaign halted verbal attacks, pulled television ads, and promoted a message of unity among prominent Democrats.
Speaking on Tuesday at the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) convention, Biden expressed concern over the current state of politics, stating, “Just because our politics are very divided doesn’t mean we should stop telling the truth. Who you are, what you’ve done, what you will do – that’s fair game.”
He continued to criticize Trump, particularly addressing claims about unemployment rates: “Let me say it again because Trump is lying like hell about it. Black unemployment hit a record low under the Biden-Harris administration.”
Indeed, statistics confirm that in 2023, Black or African American unemployment reached a historic low of 4.8%.
Gun control has long been a key issue for Biden. He played a crucial role in passing the 1994 assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004. Referencing this during his speech, Biden stated, “I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again.”
In 2022, he signed the most significant gun safety legislation in decades, including enhanced background checks for gun buyers.
However, he has consistently faced strong Republican opposition to an assault weapons ban.
Biden’s return to campaigning coincided with the Republican National Convention (RNC), where speakers, including Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, united behind Trump.
At a side event hosted by the US Concealed Carry Association, Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita assured attendees that Trump would safeguard gun rights by appointing pro-gun judges if elected in November.
“We’ll see a continuation of supporting and defending the Second Amendment, and really where that comes into play is the judiciary,” LaCivita stated.
Trump has vowed to dismantle Biden’s new gun regulations if re-elected, maintaining his stance despite the recent attempt on his life.
Authorities are still investigating the motive of the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who managed to shoot at Trump from a rooftop 130 meters (426 feet) away.
An independent review of the Secret Service’s response to the shooting is ongoing, and Republican leaders in Congress have announced their own investigation.
Source-BBC
