President Biden released a statement today on the Columbine High School Shooting on its 25th anniversary. In the statement, the President drew attention to factors that contributed to the tragedy that occurred in Colorado in 1999. After taking time to mention that the two students who committed the violence obtained the assault weapons and other firearms they used without background checks, the President brought attention to how there have been more than 400 other school shootings since the violence that occurred at Columbine High School. After expressing condolences to those who have suffered loss from these events, the President brought attention to the efforts of his administration to address the issue of gun violence in the United States.
According to the press release, the Biden Administration has created the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which is overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris. In addition, the President signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, as well as implemented a large expansion to gun background check requirements, the latter of which addressed a loophole that allowed the Columbine shooters to attain their weapons. The President emphasized that he will continue to pursue actions like these, and called for universal background checks, a national red flag law, and the banning of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The last call by the President was that Congress due something about the gun violence epidemic.