"The time has come for Congress to ban assault weapons." So today US President Joe Biden after signing an executive order that tries to limit its spread through stricter regulation on sales.
The president says he will entrust U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland with developing and implementing a plan to prevent dealers with revoked or divested federal licenses from continuing to sell weapons. In this direction - he explained - information campaigns will be launched on the so-called "Red Flag" laws, which allow the activation of a legal procedure to confiscate firearms from those who represent a danger to third parties or to themselves. "It's common sense to check if someone has committed a crime or abuse before you sell them a gun," Biden says.
Through this executive order - he adds - support will also be guaranteed to survivors and relatives of victims of shootings, including with accompaniment for mental health.
Biden outlined the new rules in Monterey Park, Los Angeles, California, meeting with relatives of victims of the shooting in which 11 people were killed in January. He arrived in the town accompanied by the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, and Brandon Tsay, the citizen hero who disarmed the author of the attack carried out during the Chinese New Year celebrations. "This has been a place of refuge for generations with different roots. That was a day of celebration that turned into fear and darkness," the head of the White House said.
"People from China, the Philippines, Vietnam or Taiwan are part of America's history. This week a film about their power and resilience also made history at the Oscars," Biden said, referring to "Everything Everywhere All at Once," which won seven statuettes.