The White House on Monday called a school shooting in Nashville “heartbreaking” and urged Republicans to back President Joe Biden’s push for a ban on the assault weapons commonly used in US mass shootings.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had been briefed on the “heartbreaking news of another shooting of innocents” and she asked what Republicans were waiting for to stop sales of military style semi-automatic rifles — hugely popular among many gun owners but also frequently used by mass shooters.
“How many more children have to be murdered, before Republicans in Congress will step up and act to pass the assault weapons ban?” she asked.
Jean-Pierre said that Biden would address the latest tragedy at around 2:30 pm (1830 GMT).