President Biden on Sunday called for tougher gun laws on the anniversary of the Parkland school massacre that killed 17 people, and insisted that “now is the time to act.”
“In a matter of seconds, the lives of dozens of families and the lives of an American community changed forever,” Biden said in a statement.
He urged Congress to propose and pass legislation on weapons reform, including the need to verify the background to all arms sales and ban assault weapons.
“We owe it to all those we have lost and to all those who have been left behind to grieve for change. Now is the time to act, ”said Biden, who is spending the weekend at Camp David.
Biden’s plea comes three years after a former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire with an AR-15 rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
The shootings killed 14 students and three troops, while injuring 17 more.
“Over these three years, the Parkland families have taught us all something profound,” the president said.
“Time and time again they have shown us how we can turn our pain into purpose: march, organize and build a strong, inclusive and lasting movement for change.”
In addition to calling for background checks and a ban on assault weapons, Biden also pushed for lawmakers to ban high-capacity magazines and hold gun manufacturers accountable for the role their weapons play in violence.
“This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to take this call into account. We will take steps to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer, ”said the president.
The parents of those killed and injured in the massacre have been divided over gun control.
Ryan Petty, whose 14-year-old daughter Alaina died in the shooting, responded to Biden in a tweet Sunday.
“Mr. President, thank you for remembering the loved ones who took us out 3 years ago, ”he wrote. “Alaina loved this country and the freedoms it guarantees. Common sense tells us that honoring one’s life does not require violating the rights of law-abiding citizens. “
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime, 14, was also killed, vowed on Sunday to hold the new administration accountable for passing weapons laws.
“I will work with our new President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, to make sure we do everything we can to stop this violence,” he said. wrote on Twitter.
“If it doesn’t happen, then I and I will continue to work to choose new people who want to do this. We’ve worked hard to pick the ones on the site now, and I hope this is done or we’ll hold them accountable. “
With publishing cables