Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Kevin Dietsch
Is Joe Biden hinting at Kamala Harris’ potential presidency? Following the recent assassination attempt on their political rival, Donald Trump, President Biden has renewed his call for an assault weapon ban in the United States, suggesting that his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, is well-suited to address the issue of gun violence.
In his NAACP speech, Biden stated that Harris “could be the president of the United States” while commending her contributions as vice president. “She’s not only a great vice president, she could be president of the United States,” Biden remarked. He linked his call for stricter gun control measures to the recent shooting incident involving Trump, emphasizing the need to outlaw assault weapons: “I did it once and I will do it again,” he said, as reported by Daily Mail.
Biden highlighted the urgency of addressing gun violence in light of the attack on Trump on July 13, 2024. “[The Gun] It was used in the shooting of Donald Trump, just as assault weapons are used to kill so many others, including children. It’s time to outlaw them,” he asserted.
The attempted assassination occurred at a MAGA rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a 20-year-old gunman named Thomas Matthew Crooks shot Trump above his right ear, causing significant injury. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation by the FBI, but the incident underscores the persistent threat of gun violence in America.
Trump’s shooting is part of a broader pattern of gun-related incidents. According to a KFF survey, more than half of American adults have experienced gun violence, with 4% of respondents having been injured in shootings. Gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and teenagers under 19, costing medical institutions over $1 billion annually, as per a congressional report on healthcare needs and costs.
In 2023, Biden appointed Harris to lead the first-ever federal office of gun violence prevention, leveraging her background as a former prosecutor and state attorney general. Kristine Lucius, a domestic policy aide to Harris, noted, “Throughout her career, the vice president has worked tirelessly to protect people from gun violence,” according to AP News.
As the Biden-Harris ticket campaigns for a second term in the upcoming 2024 elections, Harris has made gun violence a central issue. She has advocated for stricter background checks and collaborated with Maryland Senate Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks to mark Gun Violence Awareness Day, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive gun control measures.
