In the wake of the devastating school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, President Joe Biden has indicated that he may be taking serious considerations for gun control with a potential ban on assault weapons.
“It makes no sense to be able to purchase something that can fire up to 300 rounds,” said the president outside the White House. “The idea of these high-caliber weapons – there’s simply no rational basis for it in terms of, about self-protection, hunting, and I guess – and, remember, the Constitution, the Second Amendment was never absolute. You couldn’t buy a cannon when the Second Amendment was passed. You couldn’t go out and purchase a lot of weaponry.”
Last Sunday, President Biden and the first lady visited Uvalde, meeting the first responders and consoling the families of the victims killed in the shooting rampage at Robb Elementary School. They visited the school and attended mass at a local church.
Demonstrators were present nearby and chanted for the President to “Do something.” Biden acknowledged their cries, mouthing back, “We will.”
While speaking with reporters on Monday, Biden revealed he did not discuss potential legislation with Republicans while consoling the families. However, he said he expected members of the GOP to take a hard look at potential paths for change.
A bipartisan group of senators held informal talks last week on gun safety, discussing legislations that included red flag laws wherein police or family members could petition courts to remove guns from dangerous individuals. Lawmakers say there is renewed energy surrounding the issue after the deadly massacres in Uvalde and an early incident at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.
On Monday, Biden appeared to credit a federal assault rifle ban which had previously expired in 2004.
“I know what happened when we had rational action before,” he said. “Not many are saying it anymore, but there was a while there where people were saying that, you know, the tree of liberty is watered with the blood of patriots, and what we have to do is, we have to be able to take on the government when they’re wrong. Well, to do that you need an F-15, you know? You need an Abrams tank.”
“So, it’s just, as I say, I think things have gotten so bad that everybody’s getting more rational about it. At least,” that’s my hope and prayer.”
