President Biden called on Republicans in Congress to “ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines” right now during a speech Tuesday in California.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: There’s more in this executive order, but I’m not stopping there. Last week, I laid out in my budget that we invest more in safer communities and expand access to mental health services for those affected by gun violence.
Congressional Republicans should pass my budget instead of calling for cuts in these services or defunding the police or abolishing the FBI, as we hear from our MAGA Republican friends. But let’s be clear, none of this absolves Congress from the responsibility of acting to pass universal background checks, eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability, and I’m determined once again to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines.
I led that fight to ban them in 1994. In the 10 years that law was in place, mass shootings went down. Our Republican friends let it expire 10 years later, and mass shootings tripled since then, tripled. So let’s finish the job. Ban assault weapons, ban them again, do it now. Enough. Do something, do something big.
Folks, let me close with this. Scripture says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” A lot of us have been there. As we gather here today, I know your hearts are broken, but I know your spirits are strong. And as you remember and heal, I know the light of your loved one is once again going to lead you forward.
It takes time. I tell everyone, at least it did with me, it takes time. But I promise you, I promise you, the day will come when the memory of your loved one brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. The tear will never fully go away, but when you had that smile at first remembrance, that’s when you know.
That’s when you know you’re going to make it. You’re going to know you’re going to make it. And my prayer for all of you is that day will come sooner than later, but I promise you, it will come. God bless you all. I admire you so damn much.
* This article was originally published here