Texas School Shooting: We Have To Act, Reinstate Assault Weapons Ban, Biden Says

Even as the US President demanded action, he did not clarify on actions intended, or called for a specific vote in Congress.

New Delhi: Hours after the horrific mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas Tuesday, US President Joe Biden called upon Americans to stand up to the gun lobby and build pressure on members of Congress to pass sensible gun laws. Suggesting to reinstate the assault weapons ban and other common gun laws, Biden said, "We have to act", according to the news agency Reuters.

A teenage gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The shooter was killed by police officers, as per the agency report. Texas Governor Greg Abbott informed that an elementary school shooter is an 18-year-old male from Uvalde.

Even as the US President demanded action, he did not clarify on actions intended, nor call for a specific vote in Congress or policy. "I hoped when I became president I would not have to do this, again," said Biden condemning the death of "beautiful, innocent" second, third and fourth graders in "another massacre."

The incident is considered as the nation's worst school shooting in nearly a decade. Disturbed over the incident Biden said,  "The parents in Texas will never see their child again, never have them jump in bed and cuddle with them".

He stressed that Americans should fight the feeling of powerlessness from seeing yet another mass shooting.  

"As a nation, we have to ask when in God's name we're going to stand up to the gun lobby, when in God's name we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done," said Biden. "I am sick and tired. We have to act. And don't tell me we can't have an impact on this carnage."

The incidences of mass shootings in the US often trigger public protests demanding action from politicians. However, federal gun safety policies including background checks haven't taken off in the face of strong Republican opposition.

In 2021, almost 61 "active shooter" incidents were repoted, sharp rise from the prior year and the highest tally in over 20 years, the FBI reported this week.

A mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York just 10 days back increased pressure on the Biden administration to ensure it cracks down on gun violence, and the latest incident of shooting at the elementary school makes it even harder for the President.

In 1994, Biden, then a senator from Delaware, ushered in a 10-year ban on assault weapons with a close 52-48 vote in the . Senate that was not renewed in 2004.

"When we passed the assault weapons ban, mass shootings went down. When the law expired, mass shootings tripled. The idea that an 18-year-old kid could walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons, is just wrong," Biden said.

In his race for the White House, Biden promised to push gun safety measures and reduce the country's annual gun deaths. However, Biden and his fellow Democrats couldnt secure the votes in the Senate needed to pass their bills.