Joe Biden dubs US gun violence an ‘epidemic’, calls for ban on private ‘assault weapons’

US President Joe Biden on Thursday dubbed the gun violence in the country an “epidemic” and an “international embarrasement”, while also calling for a ban on private “assault weapons”. “This is an epidemic, for God’s sake, and it has to stop,” he said, calling shootings “a public health crisis”. 

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“We should also ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines,” AFP quoted Biden as saying while addressing an event at the White House to unveil a series of measures against rampant gun violence. The event was attended by Vice President Kamala Harris and Attorney General Merrick Garland. 

“Enough prayers,” Biden said. “Time for some action.”

The 78-year-old has been under pressure from his party to address the issue, with incidents of mass shootings being reported in Colorado, California and Georgia recently. 

But with Congress unable to agree on new regulations, like stricter background checks for gun buyers, Biden announced six executive measures which he said would help tamp down the crisis.

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They include a proposed rule to “stop proliferation of ghost guns,” as firearms built from home kits are known. The White House says these homemade weapons are especially of concern because they have no serial numbers and cannot be traced after being used in crimes.

Another proposed rule will be tightening regulations on arm braces designed to stabilize pistols, a device used by the man who killed 10 people in Colorado last month. Under the rule, pistols with braces would be classified as short-barreled rifles, putting them under stricter control.

Other measures include boosting support for agencies involved in tackling community violence and ordering the first comprehensive report on firearms trafficking in the United States since 2000.

Nearly 40,000 Americans die from shootings annually. 

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Biden, as a senator in 1994, had successfully backed a ban on assault weapons, which expired a decade later and has not been renewed since. 

Biden said his proposals were just a start and urged Congress to take on far-reaching measures, like added background checks and ending the sale of powerful rifles often used in mass killings.

“I know that the conversation about guns in this country can be a difficult one. But even here, there is much more common ground than anyone would believe,” he said.