Biden's focus on infrastructure after two mass killings angers gun control advocates.

[Dial H For Hero]

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Source: New York Times

After two mass shootings in less than a week, President Biden said he did not need to “wait another minute” to address the epidemic of gun violence, calling on the Senate to pass a ban on assault weapons and to close background check loopholes.

So on Thursday, at the first news conference of his presidency, Mr. Biden left gun control advocates dumbstruck and disappointed when he said the key to legislative success was ordering priorities, and that infrastructure — not guns — was next on his list.

“I’m disappointed he has the nerve and audacity to say he’s going to do things in sequential order,” said Maisha Fields, the vice president of organizing for Brady: United Against Gun Violence, a nonprofit group, on a group conference call Friday morning. “It’s out of order to have to bury your child. It’s out of order to be shopping for eggs and to have your life disrupted.”

At his news conference, Mr. Biden was asked specifically about his plans for gun legislation or executive actions on guns. In response, he pivoted to a lengthy explanation of why infrastructure was a bigger priority.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/26/us/biden-gun-control.html

[2naSalit]

1. You have to be able to negotiate some of the votes

If you want to pass a Bill. That takes time, sadly. And the Dems have to get rid of the filibuster and that takes a time too. It's coming but not soon enough for most. If we had a large majority in the Senate, there would have been a floor vote by now.

[underpants]

2. Remember all that time ago when Congress did an Impeachment and the COVID bill?

I’ll bet some of them even chewed gum.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. These people need to focus their anger NOT on Biden, but on the repugs who let this go on and

on and on and on, despite over the years, the sheer number of shootings (and not just the two recent shootings). Focus your anger on those in the repug party who misdirect/deceive/etc. as to why they don't want gun control ...

one, the repugs are in the pockets of the gun lobby (I don't see how they still are, being that the NRA is broke);

two, Infrastructure was supposed to be done some time ago, rump certainly didn't do it, and this is definitely needed in all states, to repair their roads, their bridges, etc.;

three, a fake hot button issue used by repugs...why fix the issue, they have a ready made issue to hype about to their voters;

four, repugs are totally incompetent and unable to pass anything, bill-wise. Their only major success was the tax savings bill of 2017 in which they cut the taxes of the 1% by a major amount, while NOT addressing the deficits that would result. Part of their efforts to reconcile missing revenues is steal social security funds and use to pay off supposed deficits (in short, steal the funds from grandma and grandpa's future social security payments to pay deficits so they can claim that they paid their deficits off);

five, go yell at the republicans, not Mr. Biden in getting any gun control measures on a federal basis set up. The republicans have been the roadblocks all along;

six, so when another hot button issue or issue(s) pop up, drop what we're doing now so we can run amok, change our focus, and focus on another item (gun control)?

[PatSeg]

15. Well said

Yes, go yell at republicans. This administration is making record progress on so many issues. They aren't just working on "one at a time".

[Rebl2]

24. Exactly!

They need to focus their anger on republicans blocking sensible gun reforms

[PatSeg]

27. Why is it that so often Democrats get blamed

for the many problems that republicans create..........AND by fellow Democrats?

[whistler162]

4. I am almost positive

Biden can walk, chew gum, talk without showing the gum, and do back flips at the same time.

[ananda]

9. I was going to say gun control is already in the works.

Biden is doing fine.

[Demsrule86]

30. We could stand on our head and chew gun...there isn't going to be a gun bill...we need to move move

on to legislation that has a shot. It is a sad state of affairs but not Biden's fault. It is the GOP's fault and maybe Stein voters...we would have had those three picks for SCOTUS ...could have made a difference in gun laws.

[Politicub]

5. He isn't waiting. He is leading.

As a leader, he has staff that he directs. And his cabinet leaders have been confirmed by the senate.

This article quotes gun control advocacy groups, so of course they want the focus to be on the purpose of their organizations.

[yardwork]

6. It doesn't anger me.

I'm an advocate for gun control and I'm not angry with Biden or the Democratic Party. I know where the blame lies.

[TomCADem]

7. Once Again Media Gives GOP a Free Pass

Ignoring Republican Opposition, So That it Seems Like Democrats are the ones opposing gun control. You even seen this with “progressives” who only focus on tearing down Democrats because Republicans are a lost cause.

[Bev54]

8. The infrastructure bill can get passed by reconciliation if need be

and may actually get some repubs onside. The gun legislation right now will need 60 votes unless they can get rid of the filibuster and that is not going to happen right away with Manchin. He is a gun supporter so they may just try a go on the background checks and waiting periods now. If the dems can get the voting rights bill (talk Manchin into going around filibuster for this) and the infrastructure bill done then there is a good chance they will pick up seats in the senate in 2022. If they do then they can certainly get rid of the filibuster and do a proper gun bill and many other bills. Right now, with Manchin, they have to play the long game.

[lapfog_1]

10. what is biden going to do?

if there were executive orders to deal with this, Obama would have done it after sandy hook. legislation on this will die in the senate unless the democrats go nuclear and change cloture vote to 51.

Infrastructure is something maybe he can get 10 repukes to sign on... and if he can't it will finally rub Manchin's nose in the fact that there is nothing that repukes will ever vote yes with democrats... and that hopefully will give us 50 votes to change the rules of the senate.

Then we can bring back the assault weapons ban, universal background checks, mandatory waiting periods, etc

[Aristus]

11. "DEMOCRATS IN DISARRAY!!!"

DiD story #2,564 since Inauguration Day...

[hay rick]

18. Exactly.

A preferred media narrative...one wonders why.

[IronLionZion]

12. He probably has enough votes for the infrastructure bill

gun control always gets GOP obstruction

[stillcool]

13. too bad the legislature can't do anything

about anything. I'm sure there's lots of legislation already written. No one to pass it, because some people in this country only vote for white supremacists.

[George II]

14. He's got a lot of things to do and worry about, and from what I've seen already he's doing....

....a great job of juggling and keeping all the balls in the air.

Note to complainants: It's been 65 days of a term that will last more than 1400 days.

[nuxvomica]

16. The effects of the stimulus and infrastructure will build political capital

That will be necessary to get gun control done.

[Midnight Writer]

17. Headline should be "After Two Mass Killings GOP Pledges To Block Any Gun Control Measures"

Liberal media my ass.

[scarletwoman]

19. Well said!

[ColinC]

21. Biden's also planning on signing two gun conrtol eos

presumably because he won't be able to pass anything anytime soon.

[ColinC]

20. He can focus on both.

And he is.

https://news.yahoo.com/white-house-says-biden-is-prepared-to-issue-executive-orders-on-guns-180754699.html

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

28. It's called "multi-tasking." Mothers do it all the time.

As far as priorities go, getting the economy kick started -- which affects the immediate survival of millions -- may have to take temporary priority over gun control. The former has a reasonably straightforward solution -- build stuff, pay good wages -- while the problem of gun control has existed for decades, and there doesn't seem to be a clear path to immediate resolution. short of Australia's response, which was to eliminate guns after just one mass shooting.

[Auggie]

22. Voting rights: top priority

Without this everything else is moot.

[elleng]

23. 'nerve and audacity,' nice way to talk about our Commander in Chief,

who has a 'few' things on his plate.

[cstanleytech]

25. I am sure the Republicans are salivating with hope that he will push for new gun laws right now

before the midterm elections so that they can use it as a weapon to help them win.
Biden though I think is wise enough to realize that and to also realize that what we really need is an amendment to the Constitution itself which cannot happen until we regain majority control over a number of states.

[rickyhall]

26. I'll bet there's something ready to go sitting on McTurtle's desk.

[PatrickforB]

29. Meaningless editorial by a 'gotcha' columnist.

Working real hard to generate controversy.

The tragedy in Boulder, and all the other gun violence is tragic.

As is the new GA voter suppression law, and the dozens that are being considered in Republican controlled legislatures all over the country. These types of laws endanger our very democracy. We need to pass a new Voter Rights Act.

The immigration law is also urgent.

The infrastructure bill is urgent.

Getting DeJoy out of the USPS is urgent, as is repealing the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act.

Cleaning out the Trump holdouts in the bureaucracies is urgent.

Restoring adequate funding for the IRS is urgent.

Lots of urgent things. But the most urgent?

Fix the filibuster so the Republicans can't just sit on legislation without even bringing it to the floor. If the founders intended a 60% majority for the Senate to even debate a bill, then why did they make the Vice President the President of the Senate, and give her the tie breaking vote? The filibuster is a Jim Crow holdover.

[joetheman]

31. I am torn. i think I know what Biden is trying to do if we give him a chance.

He is trying to get the big things thru Congress that will help the most people so that public sentiment will give him the backing he needs to get the HARD things done. Without HR1 and Infrastructure there is little in reality that he can do for gun control legislation. He is already committed to doing something by EO. Let him do his thing...so far he has amazed me and many others.

[DonViejo]

32. Locking...

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