The NRA suggested President Joe Biden’s latest gun control action “sends the wrong message to violent criminals.”
The NRA’s managing director of public affairs Andrew Arulanandam told Fox News on Monday, “An administration that’s truly sincere and resolute about curbing violent crime rates would do one thing: take violent criminals off the streets immediately.”
He added, “Yet, the Biden administration allows these criminals who kill and maim with callous and reckless abandon, again and again, to roam the streets of Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and other cities large and small across our country without fear of prosecution and punishment.”
Arulanandam noted Americans “know the lenient bail system and the revolving door justice system supported and perpetrated by the Biden administration and other leaders who support soft-on-criminal policies are the problem.”
He continued, “However, today, the president unveils yet another hollow plan that will not stop this violence. His gun control actions will undoubtedly hearten his wealthy gun control supporters.”
Arulanandam went on to argue the action “sends the wrong message to violent criminals, because this ‘ban’ will not affect them.”
He suggested that “these violent crime sprees will continue unabated until they are arrested, prosecuted and punished.”
The president pointed out last year alone, “Law enforcement reported approximately 20,000 suspected ghost guns to ATF. That’s a ten-fold increase from 2016.”
He claimed these guns are “the weapon of choice for many criminals — and we’re going to do everything we can to deprive them of that choice.”
Biden added, “Today, the United States Department of Justice is banning the business of manufacturing one of these kits without a serial number and requiring sellers to run background checks — just as they must do with other firearms.”
Read his comments below:
Today, the United States Department of Justice is banning the business of manufacturing one of these kits without a serial number and requiring sellers to run background checks — just as they must do with other firearms.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 11, 2022
Michael Gwin, a White House spokesperson, told Fox News, “Who in their right mind would oppose action to help keep these guns out of the hands of criminals and make it easier for law enforcement to find the shooters when they are used?”
Additionally, Biden announced a new nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The president said he would nominate former U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach to head the ATF.
NBC News noted the agency has not had a Senate-confirmed director since 2015.