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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that President Biden does not support a ban on the sale of all handguns, as lawmakers continue to feel pressure to do something about it. ‘a series of tragic mass shootings.
Jean-Pierre stated Biden’s position in response to a question from Peter News’s Peter Doocy about whether the president would support legislation similar to that of Canada that would implement a “national freeze on gun ownership.” this country.
“It supports a ban on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and the expansion of background checks to keep weapons out of dangerous hands,” he said. “It does not support the ban on the sale of all pistols.”
On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a bill to freeze gun ownership following the killing of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas.
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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily White House briefing in Washington on Tuesday. He said President Biden does not support a ban on all arms sales. (AP)
“What this means is that it will no longer be possible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada.” Trudeau said at a news conference.
“We recognize that the vast majority of gun owners use them safely and in accordance with the law, but apart from using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason why anyone in the Canada needs weapons in its daily life. “
That same day, Biden seemed to suggest that “high-caliber” weapons should be banned. The statements came outside the White House after his trip to Uvalde.
Relating a visit to New York trauma hospital, Biden said doctors showed him x-rays of gunshot wounds.
“They said a .22 caliber bullet would be lodged in the lung and we could probably get it out, maybe we could get it and save our lives. A 9mm bullet ejected the lung from the body,” Biden said.
A police officer comforts family members at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 26th. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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“So the idea of these high-caliber weapons is, eh, there’s just no rational basis for that in terms of self-protection, hunting,” Biden added. “Remember that the Constitution was never absolute.”
“A cannon could not be bought when the Second Amendment was passed,” Biden said. “You couldn’t go out and buy a lot of weapons.”
Jean-Pierre said Biden was looking at other executive actions that could be taken on arms reform and has called on Congress to act.
“He wants to make sure there is action,” he said. “The president has made this one of his priorities from the first day he joined this administration and now he is asking Congress to act.”
9mm pistols are the most popular in the United States, and most gun experts do not consider them “high-caliber.”
Bradford Betz of Fox News contributed to this report.