President Joe Biden highlighted his administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence at an event hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety, close to the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law. The president’s son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing it, facing up to 25 years in prison. Despite this, President Biden did not mention the verdict in his speech.
During the event, Biden was interrupted by a protester accusing him of being complicit in the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has resulted in a high death toll. The president acknowledged the protesters’ concerns regarding innocent lives lost in the conflict.
Biden thanked gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy, praising their efforts in powering a movement for change. The gun safety legislation signed in 2022 was a response to deadly mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, providing funding for red flag laws and mental health services while cracking down on illegal gun transactions.
The Justice Department has charged more than 500 individuals under provisions of the law to target unlawful gun trafficking and straw purchasing. Biden called for further action from Congress, including a ban on assault weapons and universal background checks, although passing such legislation in a divided Congress may be challenging. Biden also criticized former President Donald Trump’s response to mass shootings, contrasting his approach with Trump’s advice to “get over it.”
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