President Joe Biden on Sunday called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban after another mass shooting left nine people dead, including the gunman, at a Texas mall on Saturday.
The shooting occurred at the Allen Premium Outlets near Dallas, where seven people died on the scene while two more were pronounced dead at a hospital, Allen Fire Department Chief Jonathan Boyd said.
“Jill and I are praying for their families and for others critically injured, and we are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly and courageously to save lives,” Biden said.
Biden called on Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, as well as to put universal background checks into place.
“Once again I ask Congress to send me a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks,” he said in a statement. “I will sign it immediately. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe.”
Saturday’s incident brings the number of mass shootings in the United States to 200 so far in 2023 and the third of the day after shooting incidents in Chico, Calif., and Columbus, Ohio. According to an analysis of the Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University mass killing database, there have been 22 mass killings in the U.S. in 2023.
The 200 mass shootings in the U.S. are the most at this point since 2016, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Sunday saw the President slam Republicans in Congress, saying tweets about thoughts and prayers are not enough to end the epidemic of gun violence in America.
“Republican Members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug,” Biden said. “Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.”
“American communities have suffered roughly 200 mass shootings already this year, according to leading counts. More than 14,000 of our fellow citizens have lost their lives, credible estimates show. The leading cause of death for American kids is gun violence,” Biden added.
