Former Vice President Joe Biden criticized President Trump during a stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for not pushing for stronger gun control legislation, such as banning “assault type weapons” and magazines that can hold more than one bullet.
Biden made his comments after the mass shooting spree in Odessa and Midland, Texas, where seven people were killed and over 19 were wounded. The day after the shooting, new gun laws that loosened some restrictions went into effect in Texas.
“And we’re talking about loosening access, to have guns, to be able to take them into places of warship, I mean, it is absolutely irrational. It’s totally irrational. And it’s all about special interests and it has to stop. It has to stop,” Biden said.
“The idea that we don’t have elimination of assault type weapons, magazines that can hold multiple bullets in them, it’s absolutely mindless,” he continued, saying such a ban would not violate the Second Amendment.
Most modern-day firearms have magazines that hold more than one bullet, with a standard magazine for an AR-15 holding 30 rounds. Many gun control advocates want bans on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
The gunman began his random shooting spree on Saturday after being pulled over by police. During the attacks, the shooter hijacked a mail truck and continued shooting at random people and vehicles. Police ended the rampage by shooting and killing him.
It was later revealed the shooter had a criminal record that included pleading guilty to criminal trespassing and evading arrest, both of which are misdemeanors in Texas. He did not receive jail time, but instead got two years of probation.
