House Judiciary Committee poised to advance emergency gun measures
House Judiciary Committee poised to advance emergency gun measures The Washington Post
Today, President Biden called for banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in a prime-time address to the nation from the White House in which he asked, “For God’s sake, how much more carnage are willing to accept?” Biden said that if assault weapons can’t be banned, the age to purchase such weapon should be raised to 21. Biden also called for red-flag laws, a repeal of the liability shield for gun manufacturers and a “safe-storage” law.
Biden said everyday places have become “killing fields” after mass shootings in New York, Texas and Oklahoma. “The issue we face is one of conscience and common sense,” he said, calling on Congress to act.
Meanwhile, the House Judiciary Committee is debating legislation billed as an emergency response to mass shootings, including the school massacre in Uvalde, Tex. The Protecting Our Kids Act, among other things, would raise the purchase age of an assault weapon from 18 to 21 and attempt to crack down on large-capacity magazines and “ghost guns.” It does not include an assault weapons ban. The bill could pass the House as early as next week but is not expected to advance in the Senate.
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The latest: Biden says gun safety is an issue ‘of conscience and common sense’
President Biden called on Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in a prime-time address to the nation from the White House in the wake of mass shootings in New York, Texas and Oklahoma.
“For God’s sake, how much more carnage are willing to accept?” Biden said during an impassioned address in which 56 candles lined the hallway behind him to represent the 50 states and six territories — a gesture to suggest that gun violence impacts the entire country.
Acknowledging the political challenge of what he asking, Biden said that if assault weapons can’t be banned, the age to purchase such weapon should be raised to 21.
Biden also called for red-flag laws, a repeal of the liability shield for gun manufacturers and a “safe-storage” law — all of which he characterized as “common sense” measures.
“The issue we face is one of conscience and common sense,” Biden said.
“This isn’t about taking away anyone’s rights,” Biden said. “It’s about protecting children. It’s about protecting families. It’s about protecting whole communities. It’s about protecting our freedoms to go to school, to a grocery store, to a church, without being shot and killed.”
