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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have renewed calls for the return of the federal assault weapons ban—as well as legislation that would raise the minimum purchase age of an assault weapon to 21—after mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay terrorized Asian American communities. Here's what you need to know.
Context: The 1994 assault weapons ban, championed by Biden when he was a senator, outlawed the sale of 19 specific weapons with military-grade features. The ban expired in 2004, but the string of mass shootings over the last few years has prompted the Biden administration to push for stricter gun laws once again.
“Our prayers are with the people of Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, and after yet another spree of gun violence in America,” Biden said at the White House’s Lunar New Year reception last week.
The president also called Brandon Tsay, the 26-year-old Taiwanese American who disarmed the Monterey Park gunman, to thank him for his bravery. Tsay, who met with Harris during her visit to southern California, will be Biden’s guest at his State of the Union address next week.
Worth noting: The administration’s push for an assault weapons ban is unlikely to see success due to gridlock in Congress, which previously prevented similar measures.
At the state level, Democratic lawmakers are taking things into their own hands. In Georgia, state Rep. Michelle Au (D) reintroduced bills that would require universal background checks as well as a waiting period for gun purchases.
This story appeared as "The Big Story" in The Yappie's Jan. 30, 2022 newsletter.
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