© Provided by Washington Examiner The Biden White House is backing new gun control bills, including one that could force gun buyers to wait up to seven times the normal waiting period to receive their firearms and another that would ban the private sale of used guns.
In other words, the Biden administration supports efforts to make it more burdensome for people to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Replace the word "gun" with "vote" and watch how people react.
"Gun violence is a public health crisis," the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement this week, adding that it "looks forward" to supporting efforts to pass more "commonsense" gun control solutions.
It adds, "Every day, gun violence - community violence, domestic violence, suicides, and mass shootings - takes American lives and forever alters many more. Last year, we saw record levels of homicides in cities throughout our country, violence that disproportionately impacts Black and Latino communities."
Do you know what might actually help with that problem? More police.
Do you know what won't help? Hassling legal gun owners and buyers with this sort of penny-ante harassment.
The first bill, introduced by Majority Whip James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, would "enhance" the federal gun background check system, extending the period of time the FBI can delay a sale while performing a background check from 3 to 20 days.
The background check system "is a proven tool to reduce gun violence and save lives," the OMB said.
"This system, called the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, has kept millions of guns out of potentially dangerous hands," it continued. "The Administration encourages the House to pass two bills that would help close existing loopholes in the system."
The second bill, introduced by Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson of California, would "outlaw private sales of used guns unless they are processed through a licensed dealer," the Washington Free Beacon's Stephen Gutowski explains.
The OMB said Monday the Biden administration "looks forward to working with Congress to strengthen the federal gun background check system and take other commonsense steps to reduce gun violence."
The statement comes not long after President Joe Biden called on Congress to act on gun violence.
"This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call," Biden said this year on the anniversary of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting.. "We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer."
He adds, "Today, I am calling on Congress to enact commonsense gun law reforms, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets."
"We owe it to all those we've lost and to all those left behind to grieve to make a change," the president concluded. "The time to act is now."
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said later that gun control is a "priority" for the president.
"The president is somebody, throughout his career, who has advocated for smart gun, smart gun safety measures," she said. "He is not afraid of standing up to the NRA - he has done it multiple times."
Gun control is "a priority to him on a personal level," Psaki added.
The texts of Clyburn's and Thompson's respective bills can be read here.
Tags: Opinion, Beltway Confidential, Gun Violence, Gun Control, guns, Second Amendment, Jim Clyburn
Original Author: Becket Adams
Original Location: Biden White House 'looks forward' to backing proposed gun control measures