Biden Unveils Limited Gun Restrictions Following Recent Mass Shootings

Following the recent mass shootings across America, President Joe Biden announced a package of moves that seek to address gun violence.

Biden sees the recent scourge of violence as a “blemish on the nation.”
“Gun violence in this country is an epidemic,” Biden said in the Rose Garden to an audience of lawmakers and Americans touched by gun violence. “And it’s an international embarrassment.”

Biden repeatedly stated that his executive actions did nothing to impinge on the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The executive actions will help restrict weapons known as “ghost guns”—guns made using parts and instructions bought offline, CNN reported.

Biden’s package is limited in scope and falls short of his vows to pressure Congress to take action on gun laws. However, his moves have fulfilled his pledge made last month to take “commonsense” steps on his own and another move to heavily regulate arm braces used to make discharging a pistol more accurate. This move follows the March shooting in Boulder, Colorado, where this type of device was used.

Biden took another step in the right direction by nominating gun control advocate David Chipman to spearhead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The bureau hasn’t had a permanent director since 2015.

Biden addressed what many may see as a shortcoming to his vows to take action by saying the plans are the first steps toward addressing gun violence. He’s hopeful that more efforts will follow, including a ban on assault weapons and rules mandating universal background checks, all moves that involve Congress.

However, he has also stated his uncertainty on the likelihood of passing significant new gun laws.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Biden said during Thursday’s announcement, “it seems like we’ve always got a long way to go.”

“They’ve offered plenty of thoughts and prayers, members of Congress, but they have passed not a single new federal law to reduce gun violence,” he said of lawmakers. “Enough prayers, time for some action.”