There have been two horrific mass shootings in a span of two weeks, sparking calls for gun control reforms in the US. Vice President Kamala Harris demanded that Congress take action and called for a ban on assault weapons.
Harris attended the funeral service for Ruth Whitfield, the oldest person that was killed in the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. Whitfield was one of the 10 people who were fatally shot by a gunman espousing racist beliefs.
Speaking to reporters after giving remarks, Harris said that Congress must take action to prevent more shootings from happening.
“Everybody’s got to stand up and agree that this should not be happening in our country,” said Harris. “We are not sitting around, waiting to figure out what the solution looks like. We know what works on this. It includes – let’s have an assault weapons ban.”
“An assault weapon is a weapon of war,” Harris continued. “With no place in civil society.”
Harris also called for universal background checks on those who wish to purchase a firearm.
The legislation passed the House but has been blocked by Senate Republicans in the upper chamber. Harris cited the 200 shootings that have taken place this year alone before calling on lawmakers to take action, saying that everyone must stand together at this time.
Harris previously reiterated the call for Congress to take action legislatively following the shooting that occurred in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire at an elementary school, killing 19 students and two teachers. The gunman was also fatally shot by law enforcement.
In a speech at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies 20th Annual Awards Gala, Harris said that as a country, “we have to have the courage to take action and understand the nexus between what makes for reasonable and sensible public policy to entrust something like this never happens again.”
“People of Uvalde, please know that this is a room full of leaders who grieve with you and we are praying for you and we stand with you,” said Harris.
President Joe Biden ordered the flags at the White House, federal buildings, and military bases to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims.


Trump Administration Opens Civil Rights Probes Into Five U.S. Medical Schools Over Admissions
Rubio Urges Global Isolation of Nicaragua After Ortega Vows to End Elections
Trump Praises Nigeria’s Tinubu, Signaling Stronger U.S.-Nigeria Security Ties
ASEAN Forum Puts Middle East Conflict, South China Sea Tensions in Spotlight
Trump Pushes Election Security Message at Georgia Rally Ahead of Midterm Senate Race
Maduro U.S. Drug Trafficking Trial Set for June 2027 as Immunity Defense Looms
EEOC Drops Penn Subpoena in Antisemitism Probe, Investigation Continues
Trump Threatens Iran With 'Major Military Punishment' as Red Sea Attacks Push Oil Above $100
Trump Administration Monitors OpenAI Incident as Lawmakers Push AI Kill Switch Bill
Russian Bomb Strikes Hit Zaporizhzhia, Sloviansk, Injuring Dozens in Eastern Ukraine
US Plans Closer Coordination With Erik Prince-Linked Security Firm in Haiti Amid Drone Strike Concerns
Juan Orlando Hernandez Seeks Dismissal of Honduras Charges After Trump Pardon
Iran Rejects U.S.-Backed Ceasefire as Trump Escalates Military Threats, Oil Tops $100
US-Iran War Enters 11th Day as Costs Climb to $37.5 Billion, Trump Warns of More Strikes
Arizona Primaries Set High-Stakes Governor and House Battles Ahead of Midterm Elections
US Investigates Moonshot Over Alleged Use of Advanced AI Chips and IP Theft 



