Image via The New York Times
In response to recent high-profile mass shootings, President Joe Biden has renewed calls for a ban on assault weapons.
Following the tragic killings that took place at a Colorado LGBTQ club and a Virginia Walmart, the President of the United States reaffirmed his stance when visiting Massachusetts on Thanksgiving, according to NBC News.
“The idea that we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick,” Biden said while speaking to first responders at a Nantucket Island firehouse. “It has no, no social redeeming value. Zero. None. Not a single solitary rationale for it except profit for the gun manufacturers.
“I’m going to try. I’m going to try to get rid of assault weapons,” he added.
A ban on assault weapons was last passed by Congress in 1994, but it was only in effect for ten years. Despite appeals for gun control since then, the House and Senate have not passed legislation banning assault-style firearms. Following the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, the Democratic-controlled House voted to outlaw semi-automatic assault weapons back in July. However, the legislation is probably doomed in the Senate because it would require the support of all Democrats and at least 10 Republicans to overcome a filibuster.
Congress has shown resistance when it comes to banning AR-15s and other assault-style weapons. In a vote that was mostly partisan in nature, the Democratic-controlled House enacted a ban in July. However, the plan has little prospect of passing the Senate, where a filibuster would need to be broken by 10 Republicans joining a united Democratic caucus.