On Saturday, the 12th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut was commemorated by President Biden, who renewed his call for Congress to enact gun reform legislation.
In a press release, Biden emphasized the actions his administration has taken to address gun violence while asserting that further measures are necessary, especially as he approaches the final phase of his presidency.
Biden expressed the ongoing sorrow he and First Lady Jill Biden feel over the devastating loss and reiterated their prayers for the victims’ families and all those affected by the tragic event. “Many individuals impacted by the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School have turned their pain into purpose,” he noted.
Sandy Hook legacy remembered as a mix of profound loss and unwavering hope
He also highlighted the dual nature of the tragedy’s legacy, which he characterized as one of profound loss but also of hope, citing how mothers mobilized online to advocate for sensible gun safety legislation.
The president acknowledged the families of victims of gun violence and the advocates who have taken a stand by establishing foundations in memory of their loved ones while holding the gun industry accountable.
“With the strength of this emboldened movement by our side, we have made historic progress to reduce gun violence over the past four years,” Biden stated, detailing the administration’s gun reform efforts, including legislation at both the federal and state levels and the establishment of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Biden highlighted that under his administration, there has been a reduction in homicides, a decline in crime rates, and fewer mass shootings. “This progress is no accident,” he remarked, while insisting that more work remains to be done.
The president stressed Congress’s responsibility to take action to safeguard children and communities from the epidemic of gun violence. “We are the only nation experiencing this epidemic, and there are common-sense policies that the majority of Americans support, which Congress can readily implement,” he said.
This renewed push for action follows the passage of a bipartisan gun safety bill by Congress just over two years ago, which Biden signed into law in June 2022. The legislation strengthens background checks for purchasers aged 18 to 21, makes straw purchasing and trafficking firearms a federal crime, and clarifies the definition of federally licensed firearm dealers.
In his latest appeal, he mentioned universal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage mandates, and bans on assault weapons—like the one used in the Sandy Hook shooting—as essential initial steps.
Biden’s remarks came nearly three months after he signed an executive order aimed at preventing gun violence, which included efforts to regulate 3D-printed firearms, such as the ghost gun linked to the recent fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and to enhance active shooter drills in schools nationwide.
“I remain hopeful that we will continue to make progress on these priorities,” Biden concluded in his release. Earlier this year, many survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting graduated, marking a significant milestone more than a decade after the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, claimed the lives of 20 students and six educators.
