Staff Reports
President Joe Biden traveled to Lewiston, Maine, to grieve with the townspeople after the recent tragic shooting. Biden, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, visited the sites of the shooting – Schemengees Bar and Grille and the bowling alley Just-in-Time Recreation – and delivered remarks calling for new gun control measures. Despite the Republican control of the House of Representatives making it unlikely for Biden’s proposed reforms to pass, there is hope that the Lewiston shootings may change some minds on the issue.
Biden has been a vocal advocate for common-sense gun reforms, including new background checks, red flag laws, and reinstating the ban on assault-style weapons. He successfully passed the bipartisan Safer Communities Act gun reform bill in 2022, which was a major achievement considering the polarization on the issue. However, there is still more work to be done.
One notable change of position came from Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), who previously opposed reinstating the assault-style weapons ban but now supports it following the events in Lewiston. Golden publicly called on Congress to take action and ban assault rifles like the one used in the mass shooting. This shift in perspective demonstrates the impact that tragic events can have on lawmakers’ views.
https://twitter.com/CindyLeahy21206/status/1720617229757091954
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, made it clear that the administration will continue to push for additional gun violence legislation, regardless of any resistance in Congress. She stressed the importance of taking action to save lives and emphasized that Republicans in Congress should have an appetite for addressing the issue.
Overall, President Biden’s visit to Lewiston serves as a reminder of the devastating effects of gun violence and the need for comprehensive gun reform. While there are political obstacles to overcome, the tragic events in Lewiston may have the potential to drive change and lead to the implementation of sensible measures to protect our communities
