Biden calls for tighter gun control measures after Colorado shooting

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the implementation of the American Rescue Plan in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/

 

By Jeff Mason, Nandita Bose

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for a ban on assault weapons and tighter gun control measures as he stepped into the familiar role of grief counselor for a traumatized nation after a mass shooting left 10 people dead in Colorado.

 

“I don’t need to wait another minute, let alone another hour, to take common sense steps that will save lives in the future,” Biden said, adding that “we can ban assault weapons.”

 

“This is not and should not be a partisan issue,” Biden said at the White House. “It’s an American issue that will save lives, American lives. We must act.”

 

“We can ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines in this country, once again.”

 

Biden spoke before leaving Washington for Columbus, Ohio, a visit where he will mark the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare.

 

The mass shooting in Boulder followed a gunman’s killing the previous week of eight people at spas in Atlanta, bringing new attention to U.S. gun violence.

 

Flags at the White House were at half staff until sunset on Monday to commemorate the Atlanta shooting victims. They flew at full staff for a few hours on Tuesday morning before being lowered again to mark the Boulder killings.

 

Biden, whose personal life has been marked by the loss of his first wife, and two children, offered his condolences to the families of victims, saying he and his wife, Jill Biden, were devastated by the deaths.

 

Biden has in recent weeks promoted the coronavirus stimulus bill while grappling with a surge of migrants along the U.S. southern border with Mexico.

 

Now his two-month-old administration faces increased pressure to fulfill promises on gun regulation.

 

Any effort to move the United States toward greater gun control has historically been difficult with his fellow Democrats in favor and Republicans largely opposed.

 

Biden will visit Ohio State University’s James Cancer Hospital to mark the healthcare bill anniversary and promote a $100 million grant the hospital received under the Affordable Care Act to upgrade its radiation oncology department, according to White House officials.

 

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) - the signature 2010 legislative achievement of then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat under whom Biden served as vice president - has survived repeated attacks from Republicans, on Capitol Hill and in the courts. It is expanding under Biden’s watch.

 

The federal exchange reopened in mid-February for a special enrollment period, with more than 206,000 people signing up for coverage in the first two weeks, nearly triple the number during the same time frame last year, when access was limited to life-changing events, federal data shows.

 

There are about 28 million Americans without health insurance, down from about 46.5 million in 2010, when the ACA was passed, according to the latest federal figures.

 

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Jeff Mason, Nandita Bose and Steve Holland; Editing by Heather Timmons and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-24

 

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[PatOngo]

Ah Joe, Presidents before you have peed into the wind on this subject, you'll be doing the same! Your country is gun obsessed!

[Jeffr2]

Best of luck. Too much money from the NRA and gun manufacturers going into the pockets of members of the GOP.

 

Here's one of the worst.  He should be censured.  Horrible politician.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/03/23/durbin-cruz-gun-control-senate-hearing-vpx.cnn

 

Ted Cruz accuses Democrats of 'ridiculous theater' after shootings

[animalmagic]

46 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Best of luck. Too much money from the NRA and gun manufacturers going into the pockets of members of the GOP.

 

Here's one of the worst.  He should be censured.  Horrible politician.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/03/23/durbin-cruz-gun-control-senate-hearing-vpx.cnn

 

Ted Cruz accuses Democrats of 'ridiculous theater' after shootings

 

In America the only thing that is easier to buy than a gun is a politician.

[Tug]

47 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Ah Joe, Presidents before you have peed into the wind on this subject, you'll be doing the same! Your country is gun obsessed!

So true a minority are gun obsessed but keep this in mind about Joe Biden he’s an older guy he’s interested in what’s best for America not what’s best for him,I perdict on this subject (and others) he will first try nice bipartisan if that fails(it most likely will) then they are going to gut the filibuster and get stuff done something must be done no one (needs) an assault rifle it’s a want a bauble (a deadly one) a hand gun is all you need for home defense a bolt action long gun is just fine for hunting stop the slaughter!

[Isaan sailor]

How about a deal for Congress?  Pass stricter assault weapon law, and close the border, continue the wall and tighten immigration law.. Didn’t the shooter emigrate from Syria under a previous administration?

[nervona81732]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

So true a minority are gun obsessed but keep this in mind about Joe Biden he’s an older guy he’s interested in what’s best for America not what’s best for him,I perdict on this subject (and others) he will first try nice bipartisan if that fails(it most likely will) then they are going to gut the filibuster and get stuff done something must be done no one (needs) an assault rifle it’s a want a bauble (a deadly one) a hand gun is all you need for home defense a bolt action long gun is just fine for hunting stop the slaughter!

So Joe knows best because he is older and cares more for America??? What are you smoking ???

[KarenBravo]

Serbia and Switzerland have higher gun ownership per capita than the USA, yet, never any mass shootings. I wonder why.

[Jeffr2]

8 minutes ago, nervona81732 said:

So Joe knows best because he is older and cares more for America??? What are you smoking ???

He's spot on.  A breath of fresh air compared to the last president.

[Chomper Higgot]

37 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

How about a deal for Congress?  Pass stricter assault weapon law, and close the border, continue the wall and tighten immigration law.. Didn’t the shooter emigrate from Syria under a previous administration?

Obsessed with immigration then.

[Eric Loh]

49 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

How about a deal for Congress?  Pass stricter assault weapon law, and close the border, continue the wall and tighten immigration law.. Didn’t the shooter emigrate from Syria under a previous administration?

Shooter family emigrated from Syria in 2002 during a Republican presidency and came by plane. What's your obsession with the border. 

[pseudorabies]

Even with this coming after two mass shootings the GOP will be salivating over this.  A large segment of the US population has effectively declared that the lives lost every year from firearms is an acceptable price to pay for exercising their second amendment rights (as it is currently interpreted).  It's for this right that they've been voting against their own and their children's interests for the past 50 years.  Biden might as well be proposing to take away their bibles.

[Jeffr2]

3 minutes ago, pseudorabies said:

Even with this coming after two mass shootings the GOP will be salivating over this.  A large segment of the US population has effectively declared that the lives lost every year from firearms is an acceptable price to pay for exercising their second amendment rights (as it is currently interpreted).  It's for this right that they've been voting against their own and their children's interests for the past 50 years.  Biden might as well be proposing to take away their bibles.

Luckily, a majority of Americans supporter stricter gun control laws.  A minority don't.  And the GOP congress doesn't because of the donations they get from the NRA and gun manufacturers.

 

https://iop.harvard.edu/get-involved/harvard-political-review/vast-majority-americans-support-universal-background-checks

 

The Vast Majority of Americans Support Universal Background Checks. Why Doesn’t Congress?

[howbri]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

So true a minority are gun obsessed but keep this in mind about Joe Biden he’s an older guy he’s interested in what’s best for America not what’s best for him,I perdict on this subject (and others) he will first try nice bipartisan if that fails(it most likely will) then they are going to gut the filibuster and get stuff done something must be done no one (needs) an assault rifle it’s a want a bauble (a deadly one) a hand gun is all you need for home defense a bolt action long gun is just fine for hunting stop the slaughter!

You're very funny. Biden doesn't give a rat's ash about the country OR it's people. He's more interested in getting votes from the dredges of the world. Americans are always LAST on the democrat agenda.

[4737 Carlin]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Joe Biden he’s an older guy he’s interested in what’s best for America not what’s best for him

????

[pseudorabies]

10 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Luckily, a majority of Americans supporter stricter gun control laws.  A minority don't.  And the GOP congress doesn't because of the donations they get from the NRA and gun manufacturers.

 

https://iop.harvard.edu/get-involved/harvard-political-review/vast-majority-americans-support-universal-background-checks

 

The Vast Majority of Americans Support Universal Background Checks. Why Doesn’t Congress?

Sadly, a majority of Americans don't vote, especially in state and local elections. Those on the right do.

I think the Biden and the democrats are going to lose on this. They'll gain little or no meaningful ground and will succeed in whipping up the GOP base.

I hope I'm wrong

[Salerno]

11 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

That's what my father fought for and was almost killed in the Vietnam war.  Fighting for our right to vote.

 

Say what! Sorry, but a rather ludicrous post IMO.

[Jeffr2]

21 minutes ago, Salerno said:

 

Say what! Sorry, but a rather ludicrous post IMO.

It's true.  Years ago, when you had to go to the polls to vote, I told my father it was already decided and I wasn't going to vote.  His response?  I risked my life so you could vote for your government.  Go vote.

 

Sad you feel my father was ludicrous.  A true vet, highly decorated.  I'll leave it at that.

[Hanuman2547]

3 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

How about a deal for Congress?  Pass stricter assault weapon law, and close the border, continue the wall and tighten immigration law.. Didn’t the shooter emigrate from Syria under a previous administration?

Yes, the shooter's family immigrated from Syria when he was three years old.  The shooter, identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, grew up in the US but does have a history of mental issues.  Somehow, he still managed to purchase a firearm, a Ruger AR 556 on 16 March 2021, only a week before he committed this terrible act.  

There was an assault weapon ban passed in 1994 when Clinton, a democrat, was President.  In 2004 the ban expired and Bush jr, a Republican, chose not to renew it.  

Edited March 24, 2021 by Hanuman2547

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

Sad you feel my father was ludicrous. 

 

Please don't put words in my mouth. I said your post was rather ludicrous, not your father.

[Hanuman2547]

41 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Well put.  Sad some Americans don't vote.  That's what my father fought for and was almost killed in the Vietnam war.  Fighting for our right to vote.  It makes a huge difference.

Sorry, but the the Vietnam War that the Americans were involved in was a civil war between the south and the north.  No one from Vietnam on any side was trying to come to the US and take your voting rights away.  

[Jeffr2]

20 minutes ago, Salerno said:

 

Please don't put words in my mouth. I said your post was rather ludicrous, not your father.

It was his words.  Not mine.  And you bashed that.  Ok....got it.

[Jeffr2]

16 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Sorry, but the the Vietnam War that the Americans were involved in was a civil war between the south and the north.  No one from Vietnam on any side was trying to come to the US and take your voting rights away.  

It was sold as a war against communism.  Basically the US against Russia and China.  A horrible proxy war.  And if you are in the service, you go where you are told.

[KarenBravo]

5 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

It was sold as a war against communism.  Basically the US against Russia and China.  A horrible proxy war.  And if you are in the service, you go where you are told.

 

Yes, that is what the US mistakenly believed. In fact, to the Vietnamese, it was a war of independence.

[Rimmer]

Post with an altered quote removed

[Salerno]

3 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

It was his words.  Not mine.  And you bashed that.  Ok....got it.

 

And? It was a ludicrous post, that you made not your father, and you know it. Nobody has fought a war to ensure an American citizen can vote for centuries. 

 

Instead of doubling down, why not recognise it's ludicrous and change it to a more realistic and meaningful post along the lines of "Those elected have the power to, among other things, send young men and women to far corners of the world to die - go vote!". 

 

[Kwasaki]

I guess the argument would be if one of the people that were shot carried a gun it may have been another story. 

So sad RIP to the victims.

[chilly07]

Where's a moderator when you need one- what's the Vietnam War got to do with selling assault weapons to the criminally insane in the USA?

[GinBoy2]

7 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

How about a deal for Congress?  Pass stricter assault weapon law, and close the border, continue the wall and tighten immigration law.. Didn’t the shooter emigrate from Syria under a previous administration?

Yes, GW Bush.

 

All that being said, this was a really troubled young man so I wouldn't be rushing to the conclusion it's some radicalized Islamist incident.

 

 https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/23/us/boulder-colorado-shooting-suspect/index.html

 

[Thingamabob]

No chance with this I'm afraid. Biden needs to get a grip on a number of other issues eg the chaos on the southern border.