Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure
South Lawn
11:47 A.M. EDT
Q Mr. President, is there any — is there any action that you can take on guns? Or do you think it’s all up to Congress at this point?
THE PRESIDENT: I have gone the full extent of my executive authority to do, on my own, anything about guns.
Q Will you — will you consider-
THE PRESIDENT: Wait, wait, wait, wait a minute. Wait a minute. The Congress has to act. The majority of the American people think having assault weapons is bizarre; it’s a crazy idea. They’re against that. And so, I think the Congress should be passing the assault weapons ban.
I want to remind you, the last time we passed the assault weapons ban, violent shootings went down, mass shootings went down for 10 or however many years it was — 9 years. And so-
Q So what can you do?
THE PRESIDENT: So I can’t do anything except plead with the Congress to act reasonably.
Q Will you consider traveling to Nashville to meet with members of the community? Will you consider traveling to Nashville to meet with members of the community?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I’ve spoken with everyone down there, from the mayor, to the senators, to all the players. I spoke to the chief of police today. I’ve spoken to all of them.
What I don’t want to do — I’ve been through many of these myself, as you know, all the way starting way back to the mass shootings (inaudible).
Thank you.
11:48 A.M. EDT
