Biden calls for ban on gun used to shoot Trump

President Joe Biden has called on Congress to ban assault rifles, including the AR-15, which was used in a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where a gunman shot at Trump from a nearby rooftop, grazing his ear. Biden made his plea during a speech at the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People’s (NAACP) national convention in Las Vegas. He emphasized that assault weapons have caused numerous deaths, including those of children, and it is time to outlaw them.

Following the attack on Trump, Biden's campaign paused for several days, halting verbal attacks and pulling television ads. Prominent Democrats pushed a message of unity during this period. However, when Biden resumed his campaign, he continued to criticize Trump, stating that despite the heated political climate, the truth must still be told. He highlighted that black unemployment reached a record low under his administration, hitting 4. 8%.

Biden has a long history of advocating for gun control. In 1994, he played a key role in passing an assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004. During his first term as president in 2022, he signed significant gun safety legislation, which included enhanced background checks for gun buyers. Despite these efforts, he has faced strong opposition from Republicans who are against an assault weapons ban.

As Biden returned to the campaign trail, the Republican National Convention continued, with speakers like Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis uniting behind Trump. At a side event hosted by the US Concealed Carry Association, a senior adviser to Trump's campaign stated that Trump would protect gun rights by appointing pro-gun judges if re-elected. Trump has also vowed to undo all of Biden's new gun regulations if he wins in November.

Authorities are still investigating the motive of the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who managed to shoot at Trump from a rooftop 130 meters away. An independent review of the Secret Service's handling of the incident is underway, and Republican leaders in Congress have announced their own investigation.