By WILL WEISSERT
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden mentioned Monday that the “Second Modification was by no means absolute” and that, after the Texas elementary faculty capturing, there could also be some bipartisan help to tighten restrictions on the form of high-powered weapons utilized by the gunman.
“I believe issues have gotten so dangerous that everyone’s getting extra rational, no less than that’s my hope,” Biden informed reporters earlier than honoring the nation’s fallen in Memorial Day remarks at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery.
His feedback got here a day after he traveled to the shattered Texas group of Uvalde, mourning privately for three-plus hours with anguished households grieving for the 19 kids and two academics who died within the capturing. Confronted with chants of “do one thing” as he departed a church service, Biden pledged: “We’ll.”
After the Uvalde journey, Biden spent Sunday night time at his dwelling in Delaware. As he arrived on the White Home for Memorial Day occasions, he was requested if he’s now extra motivated to see new federal limits imposed on firearms.
“I’ve been fairly motivated all alongside,” he mentioned. “I’m going to proceed to push and we’ll see how this goes.”
In Congress, a bipartisan group of senators talked over the weekend to see if they may attain even a modest compromise on gun laws after a decade of largely failed efforts. That included encouraging state “pink flag” legal guidelines to maintain weapons away from these with psychological well being issues. A congressional aide mentioned the senators would meet just about Tuesday and all through the week.
“The Second Modification was by no means absolute,” Biden mentioned. “You couldn’t purchase a cannon when the Second Modification was handed. You couldn’t exit and purchase a number of weapons.”
Later, the president and first girl Jill Biden have been joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin and Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Standing at consideration below a cloudless sky within the late-Might warmth, Biden saluted as faucets performed, after laying the wreath of multi-colored flowers wrapped in pink, white and blue ribbon in entrance of the tomb.
Delivering remarks honoring fallen servicemembers, he mentioned “Memorial Day is all the time a day the place ache and delight are combined collectively.”
“As we speak we’re free as a result of they have been courageous,” the president mentioned.
However Biden mentioned the nation’s experiment in democracy stays below risk, each overseas, within the type of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and in division at dwelling. He referred to as upholding democracy “the mission of our time.”
“Our memorial to them should not be only a day once we pause and pray,” Biden mentioned. “It should be a day by day dedication to behave, to return collectively, to be worthy of the worth that was paid.”
In his earlier statements to reporters on weapons, Biden mentioned he’d not spoken to Republicans on the problem “however my guess is … they’re going to need to take a tough look.”
There may be nowhere close to sufficient help from congressional Republicans for broader gun measures well-liked with the general public — like a brand new ban on assault-type weapons or common background checks on gun purchases. Nonetheless, Democratic advocates hope significant measures may nonetheless move.
Biden mentioned he had taken some government actions on weapons “however I can’t outlaw a weapon” and may’t “change the background checks.”
He mentioned he didn’t know the place congressional negotiations stand, however “there’s realization on the a part of rational Republicans” that ”we are able to’t maintain repeating ourselves.”
Earlier than returning to Washington, the president and first girl, whose veteran son Beau died of most cancers brought on by a mind tumor in 2015, attended church Monday morning and laid flowers at their son’s grave.
“As we speak’s the day our son died,” Biden mentioned at Arlington, telling households that he is aware of remembrances like Monday’s can “reopen that black gap” of ache.
However he mentioned due to their dedication to the beliefs of America, “Part of them remains to be with us regardless of how way back we misplaced them.”
The Bidens additionally hosted a breakfast within the White Home’s East Room with about 130 members of veteran organizations, navy household teams and senior Protection Division and different administration officers.
The president, the primary girl and representatives from 5 Gold Star households who misplaced kin in fight additionally planted a Southern magnolia tree on the White Home South Garden. The tree got here from a sapling of a close-by magnolia planted by President Andrew Jackson in 1835.
Because the group used shovels to toss grime on the newly planted tree, Biden grinned and mentioned “shovel brigade.” He and the primary girl later held palms with these gathered in a circle across the tree and prayed silently.
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AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
