President Biden signs order to tighten background checks on people buying guns

President Joe Biden has made another bid to tighten gun control in the US.

He’s used an executive order to increase the number of background checks needed before someone can buy a firearm.

The move is aimed at moving the US «as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation.»

On Tuesday, Biden visited a suburban community near Los Angeles where a gunman stormed a dance hall and killed eleven people in January. 

“I’m determined to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden told the families of some of the victims who were in the audience for his remarks, along with the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman.

• College students hide in the dark after three people were gunned down at Michigan university
• Man behind deadly California shooting named by police but motive still unclear
• Seven dead and suspect arrested in two more California shooting incidents

At present laws on the sale of firearms vary from state to state.vThe latest order does not require the approval of Congress.

Last year, Biden attempted to push a law banning assault weapons but it’s unlikely to get far with Republicans in control of the US House of Representatives.

Source