Speaking at the White House before leaving for Columbus, Ohio, Biden hinted that he may take executive action on gun violence, in the wake of the deadly shooting in Colorado Monday.
“As president I’m going to use all the resources at my disposal to keep people safe,” said Biden.
Biden has also called on a ban of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“I got that done when I was a senator. It passed. It was a law for the longest time, and it brought down these mass killings. We should do it again. We can close loopholes in our background check system, close the Charleston loophole. That’s one of the best tools we have right now to prevent gun violence,” said Biden.
He called on the Senate to “immediately pass” two bills the House recently approved that change background check laws. He said gun control laws shouldn’t be a “partisan issue,” adding, “this is an American issue.”
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U.S. House Democrats passed the bill on March 11th to require background checks on all gun sales and a 10-day review for all firearm purchases.
With a final vote of 227 to 203, only one Democrat voted no. Eight Republicans supported the bill.
On March 11th, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green tweeted out, “HR 8 and HR 1446 are just more gun control legislation violating Americans’ great right to bear arms. I hope the Democrats come to their senses and realize gun rights are American rights.”
“What they want to do is create lists… when you do a background check, you have to register for it,” she said, “When you put gun owners on lists, what does that lead to later on? It leads to gun confiscation.”
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and her colleagues have promised survivors of shootings and family members of those killed, that “we are not going away” until the background checks legislation passes.
“The gun violence crisis in America is a challenge to the conscience of our country – one that demands that we act,” Pelosi said during floor debate on the bills on Wednesday, “These solutions will save lives.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that the background checks legislation will “be on the floor of the Senate and we will see where everybody stands.”
“A vote is what we need,” Schumer added, “Not thoughts and prayers.”
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