Staff Reports
Biden’s latest executive actions on gun control are a less-than-inspiring attempt to appeal to pro-gun control voters just before the 2024 election. The show was headlined by Vice President Kamala Harris, who took the stage to flex her progressive muscle. The push for universal background checks and an assault weapons ban remains mostly a pipe dream in a Congress that’s decidedly split. But that doesn’t stop the administration from trying to whip up some excitement among their base, even if the reality is that none of these proposals stand a solid chance in the current political landscape.
Harris is known for her ability to double down on progressive talking points, and her speech didn’t disappoint. She claimed safety is a civil right, suggesting that anyone who values the Second Amendment must somehow be in favor of turning the streets into the Wild West. The vice president’s rhetoric about fighting gun violence and protecting communities may tickle the ears of her supporters, but it lacks any real engagement with the concerns of responsible gun owners who know that criminals don’t obey laws, no matter how many are stacked on the books.
Washington Examiner: Biden gives Harris gun violence win to tout on campaign trail https://t.co/JS6Rft7qiS
— Ian Hansen News 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansenNews) September 26, 2024
When Biden finally shuffled onto the stage, there wasn’t exactly a roar of applause echoing through the crowd. Sure, he got a standing ovation, but it left many wondering just how many people were truly convinced by his assertions. He took the opportunity to conflate gun control with broader crime issues, claiming that a dip in violent crime means it’s time to talk guns—even if those numbers don’t necessarily correlate with his administration’s policy achievements. He even took a jab at a fellow Republican senator to stir the pot, showing that bipartisan dialogue is clearly not on his agenda.
The centerpiece of Biden’s plan is the announcement of a new task force aimed at examining the threat of 3D-printed guns. It’s a convenient boogeyman for an administration that loves to keep the narrative alive about dangerous firearms while ignoring the root causes of violence. Of course, Biden pointed out that a 3D-printed device was allegedly used in a recent mass shooting—because nothing instills confidence like connecting dots without proper evidence.
Biden’s latest ploy to address gun violence comes on the heels of initiating a White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which conveniently sits at the top of the list of dubious achievements in his administration. Claiming credit for a drop in domestic homicides would be commendable if it weren’t so easy to see through their agenda. If only he could score some points with kitchen table issues like inflation or energy prices, perhaps he’d bolster his chances for a second act in the White House.
Harris and her team continue to dance around accusations that her position on gun ownership is at odds with her push for mandatory buybacks. Spokespeople in the administration are quick to assure everyone there’s no inconsistency in her messages, claiming both she and Governor Tim Walz are gun owners and don’t want to take guns away from responsible citizens. That may be the case, but it doesn’t erase the discomfort many feel when politicians pretend to advocate for common-sense solutions while simultaneously backing measures that imply all guns are dangerous.
At the end of the day, Biden and Harris appear more focused on appealing to their base and stoking the fires of division than actually addressing the complex realities of gun violence. These strategies may play well to some, but they signal a disregard for the millions of Americans who understand that responsible gun ownership is not the problem.
