Biden calls for ban on gun

used to shoot Trump

1 hour ago
By Tom Bennett, BBC News

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Reuters

A"er a pause in campaigning following the attack, Joe Biden

resumed his criticism of Donald Trump in Tuesday night's speech

Joe Biden has renewed a call for Congress to ban

assault rifles, including the model that was used in
the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Trump's ear was grazed by a bullet after a gunman

shot at him from a nearby rooftop during a
campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

“An AR-15 was used in the shooting of Donald

Trump. This was the assault weapon that killed so
many others, including children. Itʼs time to outlaw
them,” Mr Biden told the audience at a convention
in Las Vegas.

His demand came as he returned to the campaign

trail for the first time since the attack.

Biden urges America to 'lower temperature'

after Trump shooting

In maps: Donald Trump assassination attempt

For several days following the shooting, the Biden

campaign had been on pause. Verbal attacks had
been halted, television ads pulled and a message of
unity was pushed by many prominent Democrats.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Biden continued in that

vein, lamenting how “heated” politics has become.
But he went on to roundly criticise Trump
throughout the speech at the convention of the
National Association for the Advancement of
Coloured People (NAACP), a prominent civil rights
group.

“Just because our politics are very divided doesnʼt

mean we should stop telling the truth. Who you
are, what youʼve done, what you will do - thatʼs fair
game,” he said.

"Let me say it again because Trump is lying like hell

about it,” he told the conference hall of primarily
black voters.

“Black unemployment hit a record low under the

Biden-Harris administration," the president added.
Statistics show that his government reached the
record low unemployment rate for Black or
African Americans in 2023, at 4.8%.

Gun rights are an issue Mr Biden has frequently

campaigned on.

In 1994, he was instrumental in passing an assault

weapons ban, which expired in 2004. He referenced
that legislation during his speech, saying "I've done
it before, I'll do it again".

In 2022, during his first term as president, Mr

Biden signed into law the most significant gun
safety legislation in more than two decades, which
included enhanced background checks for gun
buyers and other protections.

But he has repeatedly come up against strong

opposition from Republicans to an assault
weapons ban.

The president's return to the campaign trail came

as the Republican National Convention (RNC)
closed out its second day on Tuesday, with a line-
up of speakers - including former presidential
nominee rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis -
roundly uniting behind Trump.

At a side event hosted by the gun rights group, US

Concealed Carry Association, a senior adviser to
the Trump campaign said Donald Trump would
safeguard gun rights by appointing pro-gun judges
if he is elected in November.

"We'll see a continuation of supporting and

defending the Second Amendment, and really
where that comes into play is the judiciary," Chris
LaCivita told attendees, according to Reuters news
agency.

Donald Trump has already said that he would

unravel all of Mr Bidenʼs new gun rules if elected in
November, a stance that shows no sign of changing
even following Saturdayʼs attempt on his life.

Authorities are yet to land on the motive of

gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was able to
shoot at Trump after climbing onto the roof of a
building 130m (426ft) from where he was speaking.

An independent review of the Secret Serviceʼs

handling of the shooting is underway and
Republican leaders in Congress have also
announced an investigation.

More on this story

Trump's defeated Republican rivals show
united front at convention

Trump security boosted weeks ago over

Iran plot to kill him

Watch: How chaos unfolded at Trump rally

shooting

US election 2024 US gun laws Donald Trump

United States Joe Biden

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