On Tuesday, President Biden delivered a passionate and prepared speech urging for more measures to curb gun violence nationwide, just as news broke that his son, Hunter Biden, had been convicted of three felonies in Delaware, including lying about drug use when purchasing a firearm in 2018 and unlawfully possessing the gun for 11 days.
The speech took place at Gun Sense University, an event organized by the civilian anti-gun group Everytown in Washington, D.C. President Biden chose not to address his son’s case during his speech, instead focusing on the actions he has taken in his first term to reduce gun violence and the steps he has long advocated for.
He told attendees, “No single action can solve all the problems of gun violence, but our efforts, your efforts, are collectively saving lives. We can unite the nation with urgency and seriousness. We are changing the culture, proving that our actions go beyond thoughts and prayers.”
President Biden emphasized the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed in 2022, which strengthens background checks for gun buyers aged 18 to 21, makes straw purchases or trafficking of firearms a federal crime, and clarifies the definition of federal licensed firearms dealers.
He also introduced the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and received cheers from the audience. According to the latest data from the FBI, violent crime rates have decreased in early 2024.
Biden once again called on Congress to ban assault weapons, expand background checks for gun purchases, and advocate for safe storage of firearms at home.
He lamented, “Unfortunately, Republican members of Congress oppose all of this, every single one of these measures.”
Referring to a school shooting in Iowa earlier this year, Biden criticized the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Trump, mimicking his tone and saying, “It’s terrible! But we must get over it, we must move forward.”
Biden stated, “Forget that! We don’t need to get over it, we need to stop it from happening, we need to stop it now!”
Biden and his re-election campaign increasingly highlight that crime rates have decreased nationwide during his presidency to push back against the Republican narrative of rampant violent crime in major cities.
In contrast, Trump often promises voters that if re-elected, he will protect their Second Amendment rights and delivers speeches at the National Rifle Association’s annual meetings.
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms, has been a focal point of the gun debate in the U.S. since its ratification in 1791.
Biden’s speech was briefly interrupted by protesters condemning the violence in Gaza, but his supporters drowned out the protesters with chants of “Four more years.”
After concluding his speech, President Biden departed for Delaware.