In response to the tragic shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where a gunman armed with a handgun killed three people and critically wounded a fourth, President Joe Biden has called for a federal ban on so-called “assault weapons.”
The suspected shooter was identified as a 67-year-old individual who had applied for a professor position at UNLV but was not hired. At the time of Biden’s statement, specific details about the incident, such as the shooter’s description and the type of weapon used (a handgun), were not yet known. Despite this, Biden used the event to advocate for an unconstitutional ban on “assault weapons.”
“For all the action we have taken since I’ve been President, the epidemic of gun violence we face demands that we do even more.
“But we cannot do more without Congress.
“Republican lawmakers must join with Democrats in Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, pass a national red flag law, enact universal background checks, require the safe storage of guns, and advance other commonsense measures that will help stem the tide of gun violence.”
Biden concluded his statement by mentioning the UNLV shooting and the reported killing spree by Shane James in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. Notably, Sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County stated that James allegedly used “a large caliber handgun.” It’s essential to highlight that this specific detail was not available when Biden issued the call for an “assault weapons” ban.