US president demanded bipartisan agreement to pass regulatory legislation in the sector after domestic attacks
US President Joe Biden called for Congressional action to regulate the purchase of firearms in the country. “We need to ban semi-automatic weapons and extended magazines“, said the American in a statement broadcast on national television on Thursday night (June 2, 2022).
“It’s not about taking away anyone’s guns”, he pointed out. “In fact, we believe that we should treat responsible gun owners as an example of how every gun owner should behave.”.
The speech takes place after 3 casualty attacks in the last two weeks have drawn the country’s attention to the rise in domestic violence in May – there were 74 gunshot deaths in the US in the month.
If it fails to get bipartisan approval to advance the legislation, the president suggested “at least” a revision to change the minimum age from 18 to 21 when purchasing weapons. “don’t tell me that increasing age will not do difference“, criticized Biden.
The issue needs the support of at least 60 congressmen to be discussed in the US Senate. Currently, the division is at 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie for president of the House. The obstruction of the agenda is known as “filibuster” and is the target of criticism by the president since the beginning of the year.
Biden considered “inconceivable” the party’s resistance to addressing the issue, a divisive topic on the country’s domestic agenda.
“I know how hard it is, but I will never give up. And if Congress fails, I believe this time the majority of the American people will not give up either. I believe most of you will act to turn your outrage into making this issue central to your vote.,” Biden said, referring to the midterm elections scheduled for November.
“It’s time for each of us to do our part. It’s time to act. For the children we lost, for the children we can save“, said.
He also called for the repeal of the disclaimer, a mechanism that protects the arms industry from liability for involvement in such attacks. “Imagine where we would be today if the tobacco industry were immune from being sued.”compared.
In the US, 25 of the 50 states do not require a license or criminal background check to carry a gun in public spaces. The other half establishes the need for a permit for concealed carrying, that is, the practice of carrying a weapon in public without showing it.
LEGISLATION PASSES IN COMMITTEE
Moments after the speech, the House Judiciary Committee gave its assent to the Protect Our Kids Act (“Law for the Protection of Our Children“, in the literal translation) by 25 votes to 18.
The package sets out changes to current US regulations, such as raising the legal age from 18 to 21 years for the purchase of semi-automatic rifles and the typification of new crimes in the trafficking of weapons and magazines in the country. The expectation, however, is that the text will encounter resistance among Republican lawmakers.
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