Following mass shootings in Texas, California, New York, and Oklahoma, many legislators are looking at possible landmark gun legislation. President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday evening to call on Congress and Americans to support changes to laws in order to curb gun violence.
News5 wants to know, what gun laws would you like addressed in legislation?
RESULTS:
Universal background checks - 42%
Raising age to acquire gun - 39%
Federal red flag laws - 11%
Hold limits - 8%
We're following this survey throughout the day and into tomorrow. Tune in to News5 at 4 p.m. as we review the results!
Editor's note: This survey is not based on scientific, representative samples and is solely for KOAA purposes.
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Biden urges Congress to pass gun reform in prime-time address to Nation
President Joe Biden addressed the Nation on Thursday evening to reiterate his calls for new gun laws following several mass shootings.
Biden said during the address, "the second amendment's rights, like other rights, are not absolute." The president said, "this isn't about taking anyone's rights, it's about protecting children."
Biden, citing the CDC, said that data shows that guns are the number one killer of children.
Biden said, "Why in God's name, should an ordinary citizen, be able to purchase an assault weapon ... that fires hundreds of rounds."
Biden was slated to leave the White House for Delaware this afternoon but delayed his trip by a few hours to deliver the remarks. The latest mass shooting came on Wednesday when a gunman killed four inside a Tulsa, Oklahoma medical center.
Democrats have proposed raising the age to purchase semi-automatic assault rifles, requiring background checks on all gun sales, and establishing new requirements for storing guns at home, among other items.
While such a bill could get majority support in the House, clearing the 60-vote threshold to break the filibuster in the Senate seems unlikely.
Several Republicans have expressed an openness to considering some new gun laws. Most notably has been Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who has been meeting with some Democrats on a compromise bill. Whether Cornyn and nine other Republicans would band together with Democrats on gun legislation is a tall task.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday that Biden has been giving members of Congress space to negotiate a bipartisan agreement. But Biden said earlier in the week that is willing to meet with Congress to form a compromise.
Even though the Senate is not in Washington, it's believed to be a critical week for negotiations. 10 Republicans must join 50 Democrats in the Senate for any new law to pass.
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