As President Joe Biden’s political career approaches its denouement, gun control still remains high on his wish list, and the weekend saw him observe the 12th anniversary of the carnage at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., by calling on Congress to “do more.”
In a 482-word statement issued by the White House, Biden declared, “We need universal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage requirements, and a ban on assault weapons like the one used at Sandy Hook.”
But a look at history and the facts of the Sandy Hook case show some of the most restrictive gun control laws in the country did not prevent the tragedy. Here are the facts which gun control proponents always seem inclined to overlook:
- Killer Adam Lanza, 20, murdered his mother, Nancy, with four shots to the head while she lay in bed.
- Lanza then took Nancy’s Bushmaster rifle and several magazines, all legally purchased, along with other firearms. She stored her guns in a gun safe.
- He drove his mother’s car to the school. Investigators found a rifle and two pistols—one of which he used to take his own life—near his body. Another firearm was recovered in the car.
The Hill is reporting Biden’s statement comes almost three months after he signed an executive order which cracked down on 3D printed firearms, generically called “ghost guns” because they lack serial numbers, and called for improvements in active shooter drills in schools.
In his statement, Biden asserted, “After four years under my administration, homicides are down, crime is falling, and we are seeing fewer mass shootings. This progress is no accident.”
But is that an accurate claim? Maybe not, according to an October report from Fox News, which pointed to the National Crime Victimization Survey done by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. This report said “Crimes such as rape or sexual assault, aggravated assault, and robbery increased from 2020 to 2023.”
Biden’s statement also noted he has announced “dozens of executive actions” ostensibly aimed at keeping guns out of criminals’ hands, and he also created the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Critics consider that office to be a gun control lobbying office based inside the White House. Some sources suggest Donald Trump will reverse those executive actions and dissolve the Gun Violence Prevention office immediately after moving back into the Oval Office.
Biden spent his entire career on Capitol Hill pushing gun control. He boasted about having defeated the National Rifle Association on gun legislation.
However, he has never been successful at permanently banning so-called “assault weapons” or accomplishing other gun restrictions.
He leaves office on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
