The National Rifle Association (NRA) sharply countered Vice President Kamala Harris after she implied President Biden would tackle the issue of “assault weapons.”
Harris, in a tweet on Tuesday, praised Biden’s past efforts against the NRA, suggesting he’d once again push for “assault weapons” restrictions.
Responding, the NRA referred to Fox News Digital, emphasizing Harris should brush up on the history surrounding Biden’s 1994 efforts. “Vice President Harris seems to be recalling Biden’s 1994 stance on the ‘assault weapons’ restriction. Yet, the restriction lapsed in 2004 due to NRA’s push, and now, AR-15s have grown in ownership from 850,000 to a staggering 25 million,” said Billy McLaughlin, an NRA representative.
In 1994, during his tenure as a Delaware senator, Biden supported a restriction on certain firearms as a component of a significant crime bill. Though initially separate, the restriction was merged into a comprehensive crime package. This legislation, ratified by Congress, was given the nod by then-President Bill Clinton. It instituted a decade-long restriction on specific firearms and high-capacity magazines.
Following the enactment, Democrats faced considerable electoral setbacks, prompting some, like Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to comment on the NRA’s substantial influence.
The legislation ended in 2004 during President George W. Bush’s term. The NRA’s McLaughlin also mentioned a Department of Justice analysis that indicated the restriction’s negligible impact on gun-related violence.
Nevertheless, Democrats, Biden included, have consistently praised the bill for its supposed role in reducing mass shootings. In a 2021 statement, Biden expressed his desire to re-enact such a restriction.
Meanwhile, the NRA promoted the AR-15, regularly labeled an “assault weapon” by certain groups, as a preferred self-defense tool in the U.S. They cited an instance from 2019 where a pregnant woman in Florida used her AR-15 to fend off attackers.
However, Biden’s team contended that the NRA has consistently favored profit over safety. “The NRA’s unwavering support for these potent firearms in our neighborhoods is a deliberate choice — one that doesn’t resonate with many,” Kevin Munoz, a representative of Biden’s team, commented.
Wrapping up its statement, the NRA alleged that the current administration targets responsible firearm owners while crime rates soar. They criticized the administration for “leveraging human tragedies for political gain” and hinted at personal issues potentially influencing President Biden’s approach to firearm regulations.
