But even as lawmakers, gun reform advocates and victims’ families at the South Law ceremony said the new legislation would make sense, it falls short of past laws such as banning assault weapons or even banning purchases of these firearms by persons under 21 years of age. Manuel Oliver interrupted President Joe Biden’s speech at the White House. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The activism and urgency for much more substantial action was evident when Biden’s speech was interrupted by Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin was killed in the 2018 Parkland, Florida, shooting. Oliver was heard shouting, “I’m trying to get you I’ve been saying that for years,” and Biden then said, “Let him speak. Let him speak.” Oliver, who founded the group Change the Ref and is calling for far greater measures, was then led away. In his speech, Biden called for an assault weapons ban and universal background checks. But those measures are out of reach in Congress because of Republican opposition. Biden signed the bipartisan Safe Communities Act last month. The law is the result of negotiations after the shooting massacres in Uvalde, TX and Buffalo, NY, expands background checks for people ages 18 to 21, incentivizes states to pass “red flag” laws and extends a federal law that prohibits domestic abusers from obtaining guns. The legislation also includes funds for school safety and mental health. Biden’s speech was just interrupted by a protester pic.twitter.com/dnYwl29qnI – Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 11, 2022 The White House ceremony was held nearly a week before a gunman opened fire at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Ireland, killing seven people. Biden noted the presence of Highland Park mayor and state governor JB Pritzker. “Can it really be the United States of America? How did it come to this?’ Biden said in his speech. “We all know some of the reasons – the gun lobby, special interest money, the rise of hyper-partisan racial politics in the country.” Biden said he is a Second Amendment supporter and owns four guns, but that the right to bear arms is not absolute. “The right to bear arms is not a right that trumps all others,” he said. Although he was present at the event, Oliver was critical of labeling the White House ceremony as a celebration. It drew hundreds of guests to the South Lawn, and at the end of the president’s speech, the Marine Band played Stars and Stripes Forever. But the presentation itself was even shorter and somewhat quieter than previous ceremonies marking milestones for the administration, including the passage of the infrastructure bill last year and the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.
