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more restrictive gun laws.
There is broad agreement among Democrats on a need to ban the new manufacture and sale of certain military-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips, while requiring background checks for all gun sales, including those at gun shows that are now exempt.
Buyback programs have become more frequently mentioned since the latest massacres.
Biden stressed that an “assault weapons ban” would keep the number of weapons in circulation from expanding and that the buyback program would help bring down the current count.
The former vice president said he knew of no “legal way” to compel people who already own such weapons to give them up. But he also argued against the notion that the Second Amendment affords an absolute right to any weapon. “You can’t buy a flamethrower,” he said.
Indeed, the Supreme Court has expressly said that government can regulate firearms.
But Biden said he has no plans to push a national gun registry, like what Booker is proposing.
Asked about California Sen. Kamala Harris’s proposals to take executive action to impose tighter gun regulations if Congress doesn’t act, Biden doubled down on the need for legislation because “the next guy” in the White House can “undo” any executive action.
Elsewhere on the campaign trail:
Pete Buttigieg is ramping up his outreach to Democratic Party superdelegates with a phone call to them outlining the scope of his 2020 presidential campaign. Superdelegates, who include Democratic National Committee members, elected officials and other party dignitaries, have historically held an outsized influence over the nominating process.
Top members of his staff introduced themselves Monday, with campaign manager Mike Schmuhl saying the campaign now employs 240 staffers, 37 percent of whom are people of color and 28 percent of whom are LGBTQ. A majority are women.
The South Bend, Indiana, mayor said he sees a “great opportunity” in being relatively unknown because “we’ve got a lot of room to grow.”
Montana’s political practices commissioner dismissed an ethics complaint accusing Montana Gov. Steve Bullock of using public resources to campaign for the Democratic nomination for president.
Commissioner Jeff Mangan wrote Monday there is no evidence that Gov. Steve Bullock directed members of his executive protection detail to engage in activity supporting his campaign.