Washington, June 3: Guns are the number one killer of children in the US, more than cars and cancer, President Joe Biden has said while urging a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
The remarks came amid unending gun violence in America including a teenage gunman who killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle on May 24.
While speaking from the White House on Thursday, the President said: “According to new data just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guns are the number one killer of children in the United States of America. The number one killer. More than car accidents. More than cancer.”
He said that more school-aged children were killed from guns than on-duty police officers and active-duty military combined.
“For God’s sake, how much more carnage are we willing to accept? How many more innocent American lives must be taken before we say ‘enough’? Enough.”
He said the issue people face is one of conscience and common sense. “This is not about taking away anyone’s guns.”
“It’s not about vilifying gun owners. In fact, we believe we should be treating responsible gun owners as an example of how every gun owner should behave,” Biden said.
“This isn’t about taking away anyone’s rights. It’s about protecting children. About protecting families. It’s about protecting whole communities. It’s about protecting our freedoms to go to school, to a grocery store, and to a church without being shot and killed.
“We need to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. And if we can’t ban assault weapons, then we should raise the age to purchase them from 18 to 21. Strengthen background checks. Enact safe storage laws and red-flag laws.
“Repeal the immunity that protects gun manufacturers from liability. Address the mental health crisis deepening the trauma of gun violence and as a consequence of that violence.”
