Efforts to tighten gun laws have been unsuccessful for years—mainly due to Republican opposition.
Now, U.S. President Joe Biden has renewed his call for a ban on assault rifles following the recent assassination attempt on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Call for Gun Control
At a campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada, Biden told his followers that the shooter had used an AR-15 in the attack on Trump, as reported by Kurier.
He also addressed that many people, including children, have been killed with this weapon over the years and declared, "It's time to ban it."
Efforts to tighten gun laws have been blocked for years, primarily due to Republican opposition and the powerful gun lobby, which vehemently resists any attempt to more strictly regulate gun ownership.
Appealing to Black Voters
In his speech to black voters, Biden openly praised the achievements of his deputy, Kamala Harris.
"Not only is she a great vice president, she could also be president of the United States," he said at a meeting of the civil rights movement NAACP in Las Vegas. At several points in his speech, he emphasized what he and Harris had achieved together for the country.
Biden's comments were likely aimed at garnering support from black voters. Harris is the first black woman to serve as U.S. Vice President. Her father emigrated from Jamaica to study economics, while her mother, a cancer researcher and civil rights activist, came from India.
The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is one of the oldest organizations in the black civil rights movement in the USA.
Biden’s Suitability as Candidate
Biden's statements are significant in the context of current discussions about his suitability as the Democratic presidential candidate.
While Kamala Harris was not initially considered as a replacement, the spotlight has increasingly turned to her. Some Democrats have begun to publicly praise her performance.
