Joe Biden has reiterated his call to ban the AR-15 rifle used in the recent shooting incident involving Donald Trump, which has placed Republicans in a challenging position.
Following the attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired at a Trump rally and grazed the former president’s right ear, it was revealed that the AR-15 used was legally purchased by Crooks’ father six months earlier. Pennsylvania law allows the purchase of shotguns and rifles, including the AR-15, at age 18, while the minimum age for handguns is 21.
During a speech at the 115th NAACP National Convention in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Biden emphasized the need to outlaw AR-15 rifles. “An AR-15 was used in the shooting of Donald Trump, just as it has been an assault weapon in numerous other tragic incidents, including those involving children. It’s time to prohibit them,” Biden declared, possibly referencing his involvement in passing the 1994 assault weapons ban, which expired a decade later.
Biden’s stance on banning AR-15 rifles could compel Republican advocates of gun rights to confront a difficult choice, as it directly addresses the weapon involved in the attempt on Trump’s life.
Despite the incident, Trump has affirmed his commitment to protecting gun rights if reelected in November, as stated by a senior adviser to his presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita. This commitment would involve appointing federal judges who oppose new firearm restrictions, maintaining a focus on defending the Second Amendment.
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