President Biden delivered a passionate anti-gun speech during a recent donor event in California, where he sought to rally support for stricter gun legislation.
Claiming that his stance is widely supported by most Americans, Biden reiterated several familiar talking points about those who oppose further restrictions on Second Amendment rights.
One of Biden’s key assertions was that individuals who oppose the government would require an F-16 fighter jet, suggesting that an AR-15 would be insufficient.
If “you want to work against the government, you need an F-16,” Biden said, before stating that an AR-15 wouldn’t cut it.
Despite previous fact-checking efforts, where it was debunked that AR-15s are not “weapons of war” and are not commonly used by deer hunters due to their limited stopping power, the President repeated these claims.
CNN has fact-checked Biden’s statements, including those made during the California fundraiser.
In addition to issuing executive orders related to gun access, the Biden administration has implemented regulations that curtail the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
Moreover, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) introduced a new rule governing the use of pistol braces.
Furthermore, President Biden signed the first gun legislation passed by Congress in nearly three decades in June 2022, which expanded background checks for individuals aged 18 to 21, among other restrictive measures.
As the 2024 primary elections approach, President Biden’s rhetoric on gun control and other contentious issues is becoming increasingly politically charged. Over the past few days, his staff has posted more than ten tweets from his personal and official Twitter accounts, urging Congress to pass abortion legislation that would restore Roe v. Wade. They have also highlighted the administration’s efforts to strengthen reproductive care.
During his campaign stops in California, Biden also addressed climate concerns, announcing a funding allocation of over $600 million to the state for addressing natural disasters and community relocation initiatives. This funding was sourced from the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law in 2022.
President Biden’s remarks and policy positions on gun control, reproductive rights, and climate change are expected to be focal points as the primary elections draw nearer. These issues will likely continue to shape the national discourse in the coming months, as the President seeks to solidify his support and rally his base.
