Karine Jean-Pierre tears Republicans apart after this year’s ‘201 mass shootings’: Biden’s press secretary insists he did everything to stop gun violence – and only Congress can act
- The White House press secretary said the issue of gun violence is not in President Biden’s hands and has repeatedly called on Congress to pass gun reform legislation
- Comes after the recent mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas that killed eight people
- Biden released a statement after the firing Congress sent him an assault weapons ban
Gun violence issues are now out of President Joe Biden’s hands, his press secretary claimed Monday, saying it was now up to Congress to deal with the “epidemic.”
Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected inquiries related to Biden’s call for Congress to send him an assault weapons ban following the recent mass shootings, with several reporters raising questions about perceived inaction on the matter.
The White House press secretary fired back, listing Biden’s 22 executive orders related to gun reform and combating the rise in mass shootings in America.
It comes after nine people, including children and the gunman, were killed in a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas on Saturday.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday the issue of gun violence is now out of the hands of President Joe Biden and has repeatedly called on Congress to pass gun reform legislation
The shooting came nearly a year after another mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas in May 2022 that left 19 students and two teachers dead.
The president sent a statement denouncing Republicans for not playing along in gun reform negotiations and urging Congress to send an assault weapons ban to his desk for signature.
Jean-Pierre suggested there was little the President could do other than make those statements, saying his repeated calls for Congress to act was an indication.
“The President is asking Congress to act because we need legislation,” she said during her daily briefing on Monday. “We need federal laws to solve this problem.”
“The President has taken executive action as President – more than two dozen because he takes it very seriously,” she said. “More than any other president – historic amount of action.”
Biden’s top spokesman concluded: “I think that should tell you how seriously this President takes it. I think that should show you how he made this a priority. I think that should also show you that he sees this as an epidemic – gun violence happening across the country and in our communities and in our schools.’
While Democrats have pushed for stricter gun laws, Republicans view most firearm-related laws as violations of Second Amendment rights.
A reporter pressed Jean-Pierre further when Biden “takes full advantage of the bully pulpit to push for these actions that he keeps saying he wants Congress to move forward on.”
It comes after the latest mass shooting shook the nation after a gunman opened fire at a mall in Allen, Texas, killing eight, including children, and injuring several others
“Yes,” said Jean-Pierre matter-of-factly. “I think two dozen executives who keep talking about it, he’s been very clear about the epidemic that we’re seeing in gun violence across the country.”
“We have used the full weight of administration to do whatever we can and use the tools we have to deal with this issue. But the fact remains, we need laws.’
The press secretary noted that President Biden, first Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second Mr. Doug Emhoff are all frustrated that gun violence cases are only increasing as more action is taken to address the problem.