Following two mass shootings in a week’s time, former President Barack Obama sent his condolences to families affected and called for stricter gun laws.
The 44th president issued a call to action on Tuesday after eight people were shot dead in the Atlanta area last week and a mass shooting left 10 dead in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday.
“Michelle and I grieve with the families of the victims of the shooting in Boulder,” Obama wrote in a statement, further stating that people “should be able to live our lives without wondering if the next trip outside our home could be our last.” He added: “We should. But in America, we can’t.”
A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country. It’s time for leaders everywhere to listen to the American people when they say enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/7MEJ87Is3E
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 23, 2021
SCHUMER PLEDGES ACTION ON GUN BILLS IN WAKE OF BOULDER MASS SHOOTING
He also echoed calls by President Biden for Congress to act to pass gun reform legislation.
“We can overcome opposition by cowardly politicians and the pressure of a gun lobby that opposes any limit on the ability of anyone to assemble an arsenal. We can, and we must,” Obama said.
Following the deadly shooting in Colorado, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to bring up gun control legislation in the Senate and blamed Republicans for not bringing up a gun control bill sooner when they were in control of the upper chamber.
Democratic Sen. Ed Markey tweeted on Tuesday that he agreed with Biden’s remarks. “The Senate should immediately pass the House-passed bills to close gun purchasing loopholes and ban assault weapons,” the Massachusetts politician said.
I agree with President Biden. The Senate should immediately pass the House-passed bills to close gun purchasing loopholes and ban assault weapons. https://t.co/uzgftrvpam
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) March 23, 2021
Despite overwhelming calls from Democratic leadership to pass gun reform legislation in the Senate following last week’s spa shootings in the Atlanta area and the recent grocery store attack in Boulder, Republicans could find a middle ground to form “bipartisan, common-sense” progress on gun control, according to Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
Democrats have already passed two gun-related bills in the House this month, though Grassley underscored the bills largely passed based on party lines and were carried by the Democratic majority.
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“That is not a good sign that all voices and all perspectives are being considered,” Grassley said.
