Assassination Attempt on President Trump: Biden and The Media Seize Opportunity to Push AR-15 Ban

In the wake of the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, President Biden and his media lackeys have pounced on the opportunity to advance their anti-gun agenda. This tragic incident, involving a lone gunman wielding an AR-15-style rifle, is being shamelessly exploited by the left to push for draconian gun control measures, with the usual suspects in the media cheering them on.

Leading the charge in this media circus is Vox. In their article "What the Trump assassination attempt says about young men and guns," Vox attempts to draw a direct line between the assassination attempt and America's "gun culture." The piece claims, "The AR-15 has become a symbol of power for many young men in America, a dangerous emblem of masculinity." This sensationalist narrative ignores the reality that millions of law-abiding citizens own AR-15s and use them responsibly. The focus should be on addressing the mental health issues that lead to such violent acts, not demonizing an entire demographic based on the actions of a few. Vox further states, "Young men see the AR-15 as a way to reclaim their power in a world that often leaves them feeling powerless," a gross oversimplification that vilifies responsible gun owners.

In another article titled "Will the Trump assassination attempt prompt gun control laws?", Vox speculates on whether the incident will lead to stricter gun laws. The publication asserts, "The tragic event has once again brought the issue of gun control to the forefront, with advocates arguing that the easy availability of assault weapons is a key factor in such acts of violence." This narrative conveniently overlooks the fact that the shooter acquired the gun from his father, who legally owned it, and that further restrictions on lawful gun ownership would not have prevented this crime.

The New York Times also wasted no time in pushing their anti-gun narrative. In their article "In Trump Rally Shooter’s Hometown, Guns Are Woven Into the Culture," the Times insinuates that the shooter’s environment and access to firearms are to blame, rather than his individual actions. They write, "The shooting — which killed one rally attendee and critically wounded two others — has also reignited a debate over whether stricter gun laws could have stopped Mr. Crooks or kept the AR-15-style rifle he used out of his hands." This line of reasoning is flawed and overlooks the fact that the gun used in the attack was legally owned by the shooter's father and that no amount of gun control could have prevented a determined individual from obtaining a weapon). The Times further sensationalizes the story by detailing the gun culture in the shooter's hometown, stating, "The gunman’s high school, in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, has had a rifle team since the 1950s," as if to suggest that a culture of legal, responsible gun ownership is inherently dangerous.

In another New York Times article titled "Will the Trump assassination attempt prompt gun control laws?", the publication speculates whether the incident will lead to stricter gun laws. The article notes, "The shooting has once again brought the issue of gun control to the forefront of political discourse, with many calling for immediate legislative action to prevent future tragedies." This narrative implies that the solution to such violence lies in more regulation, despite the clear evidence that the gunman acted independently and illegally.

Democratic politicians are seizing on the incident to renew their calls for stringent gun control. U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif) didn’t waste a moment to urge his colleagues to join the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, aiming to pass laws that would infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of millions of Americans. Thompson’s call for universal background checks and bans on semi-automatic firearms are nothing new, but his exploitation of this tragedy to further his agenda is particularly distasteful. He stated, "I urge my colleagues who are speaking out in horror to join the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in its efforts to pass the commonsense laws that help prevent these threats”.

Similarly, Guns.com reported that anti-gun advocates like Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action immediately took to social media to criticize Pennsylvania's lack of restrictive firearm laws. Watts bemoaned the state's gun policies, tweeting, "Time and time again our communities are shaken by acts of gun violence that have invaded what should be our safe places, and that includes the violence that we saw today". This knee-jerk reaction ignores the complexity of gun violence and simplistically blames the tools rather than the perpetrators.

President Biden himself has been vocal in his support for banning assault weapons, using the assassination attempt as a springboard for his anti-gun rhetoric. His administration’s stance is clear: use every opportunity, no matter how tragic, to strip Americans of their constitutional rights. Biden's immediate response to push for an AR-15 ban is not only opportunistic but also shows a blatant disregard for the complexities of gun violence. Just hours before the attack, Biden’s social media was buzzing with anti-gun rhetoric, which only intensified following the incident. He tweeted, "I want to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks. Trump promised the NRA that he’d do nothing about guns. And he means it".

Gun Control Advocates' Misguided Solutions

Groups like Moms Demand Action and the Newtown Action Alliance have predictably jumped on the bandwagon, using the assassination attempt to call for immediate legislative action on assault weapon bans. Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, said, "But they are a consequence of our country’s weak gun laws and guns everywhere culture – laws that allow hate to be armed with a gun to easily take someone else’s life". These organizations fail to address the root causes of violence, instead opting for easy, feel-good solutions that infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens.

The Newtown Action Alliance's statement was even more direct: "This critical measure aims to remove military-style firearms from civilian use, thereby reducing the likelihood of mass shootings and saving countless lives. We urge members of Congress to prioritize the safety and well-being of all Americans by enacting this lifesaving legislation". The measure they are referring to is H.R. 698/S. 25, a comprehensive federal assault weapons ban that aims to prohibit the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of military-style firearms for civilian use. This approach is fundamentally flawed as it fails to acknowledge that criminals do not follow laws and that such bans only serve to disarm law-abiding citizens.

Contrary to the media and Democrats’ hysteria, the rational response to such incidents lies in addressing mental health and ensuring rigorous enforcement of existing laws. Thomas Crooks, the gunman, had no prior criminal record or history of mental illness that would have flagged him in background checks. His use of a legally owned firearm by his father highlights a critical gap in the system—one that gun control laws alone cannot address.

Republican delegates, in the face of immense pressure, have remained steadfast in their defense of the Second Amendment. They advocate for improved mental health services as the primary solution to gun violence, a stance that is both practical and respectful of constitutional rights. Will Boone, a delegate from Montana, emphasized the importance of mental health services over restrictive gun laws, stating, "It’s all about mental health. The right to have a gun is enshrined in the Constitution. Once you start infringing on that, you’ll start other rights being taken away".

The BizNews report on the Republican stance highlights that delegates interviewed at Trump's nominating convention in Milwaukee were unanimously against any form of gun control. They argued that even mild measures, such as expanded background checks or raising the legal age to buy an assault weapon to 21, would infringe on constitutional rights. Instead, they called for better mental health services to address the root causes of gun violence.

The assassination attempt on President Trump is being cynically exploited by President Biden, the media, and gun control advocates to push for an AR-15 ban. This opportunistic behavior is not only unseemly but also distracts from the real issues that need to be addressed. By focusing on mental health and enforcing existing laws, we can create a safer society without sacrificing our fundamental freedoms.

As defenders of the Second Amendment, we must stay vigilant and proactive in countering these misguided efforts. The right to bear arms is not just a constitutional guarantee—it is a safeguard against tyranny and an essential component of American liberty.