Joe Biden calls for assault weapons ban in rare primetime national speech

US president demands Congress to take action in address on gun violence

US President Joe Biden on Thursday evening addressed the nation on the gun violence crisis, calling for Congress to pass tighter laws despite a political stalemate in Washington.

“This isn't about taking anyone's rights. It's about protecting children, protecting families,” he said.

“It's about protecting whole communities. It's about protecting our freedoms to go to school, to a grocery store, to a church.”

Mr Biden called for US Congress to pass a national assault weapons ban, a law that was once in place from 1994, though it expired in 2004.

He added if the ban could not be reinstated, the legal purchase age should be raised from 18 to 21.

The president also called for limiting high-capacity magazines, expanding background checks and instituting “red flag laws” that would bar those who pose a danger to others from gun ownership.

“Let's meet the moment. Let us finally do something,” he said.

Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters

A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters

Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters

Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters

A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters

People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters

Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP

People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP

Flowers are left outside the school. AFP

Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo

Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP

A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP

Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP

Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP

The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters

Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters

People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP

Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA

A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP

Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Families at the vigil. AFP

A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP

Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP

Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP

Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters

A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg

Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP

A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters

Mr Biden's speech came 24 hours after three mass shootings took place in three different states: a gunman killed four people at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while several others were injured in shootings in Los Angeles and Pennsylvania.

At least a dozen mass shootings took place over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, The Washington Post reported.

Last month, a school shooting at a primary school in Uvalde, Texas, resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two adults while a racially motivated attack killed 10 black people in a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.

“I couldn't help but think there are too many other schools, too many other everyday places that have become killing fields [and] battlefields here in America,” Mr Biden said.

Mr Biden visited Uvalde to meet mourning families and survivors as well as first responders on Monday. He and Vice President Kamala Harris also visited Buffalo on separate trips in the past two weeks.

Attorney Benjamin Crump, accompanied by the family of Ruth Whitfield, a victim of shooting at a supermarket, speaks to the media during a news conference in Buffalo, New York. AP

Vintage Firearms, the gun shop where Buffalo supermarket shooting suspect Payton Gendron legally purchased his weapon, in Endicott, New York. Reuters

Vintage Firearms in Endicott, New York. Reuters

A member of the FBI looks at bullet holes through the glass at the scene of a shooting at a TOPS supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Reuters

People embrace near the scene of the fatal mass shooting in Buffalo. AP

Police officers secure the scene after a shooting at TOPS supermarket in Buffalo. Reuters

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia speaks at a press conference after the shooting. AP

A woman is in shock, as police investigate the shooting. AP

A man is detained after the mass shooting. Photo: BigDawg/ via Reuters

Two people hug near the scene of the mass shooting. EPA

Payton Gendron, 18, was arraigned on first-degree murder charges and detained without bail. AP

A floral tribute and candles are laid. AP

Stephanie Morris is overcome with emotions, after news of the fatal shooting had spread. AP

Children walk hand-in-hand near the scene of the shooting. AP

People pay their respects outside the supermarket. AP

Mourners gather for a vigil for victims of the shooting. Reuters

Sharon Doyle gathers with others outside the supermarket. AP

Worshippers affected by the shooting pray at True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo. AP

People march to the scene of the shooting in Buffalo. AP

A person holds a flower as a group prays near the scene of the shooting. AP

Mr Biden has long asserted that legislative action on gun control should be handled in Congress and not entirely by presidential executive orders.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that she will bring a “Protecting Our Kids Act” gun package forward for a full vote next week and it is likely to pass the Democratic majority body despite Republican criticism.

But it is likely to face challenges in passing the 50-50 politically divided Senate, though a bipartisan group of senators is working on a separate firearms bill.

“I'll never give up if Congress fails,” Mr Biden said. “I believe this time a majority of American people won't give up either.”

The US ranks eighth among 64 high-income countries and territories in deaths by firearms, data compiled by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation show.

But the US ranks first in gun homicides among wealthier countries with 10 million or more people — 4.12 deaths per 100,000 people, a stark difference compared to the rate of 1.82 in Chile and 0.5 in Canada.

The nation's relationship with guns is a long one, with the right to bear arms enshrined in the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, and the well-funded gun lobby, led by the National Rifle Association, has staunchly fought against gun control.