Donald Trump has been criticized for boasting about how he protected the Second Amendment as president in the wake of Wednesday's shooting at the Super Bowl victory parade for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Context
Trump made the remarks about the right to bear arms at a 2024 campaign rally in South Carolina hours after the shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, which left one person dead and at least 21 injured, including children.
Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the incident.
What We Know
During his speech in North Charleston on Wednesday night, Trump, the expected 2024 Republican presidential candidate, told a crowd of his supporters that he vows to "fully uphold our great Second Amendment" if he is elected president.
"Nobody took care of our Second Amendment [more than me], during that four-year period, nothing happened with our Second Amendment," Trump said of his first term in office. "We will protect innocent life, and we will restore free speech."
The remarks have been condemned on social media after a clip of Trump's rally was posted on X, formerly Twitter.
"One dead and more than 20 wounded from a shooting at a Super Bowl parade today in Kansas City. Trump brags tonight that he did nothing to stop gun violence. Ghoulish," posted the account for the liberal media company MeidasTouch.
Democratic political operative J.J. Abbott said: "9 kids are probably still in the hospital in Kansas City with gunshot wounds and he's bragging about this right now. Just endlessly cruel and obtuse."
Trump's office has been contacted for comment via email.
Views
President Joe Biden said in a statement: "Today's events should move us, shock us, shame us into acting. What are we waiting for? What else do we need to see? How many more families need to be torn apart?
"It is time to act. That's where I stand. And I ask the country to stand with me. To make your voice heard in Congress so we finally act to ban assault weapons, to limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks, keep guns out of the hands of those who have no business owning them or handling them."
What's Next?
The shooting once again shines a light on the debate about the need for gun reform in the U.S.
Gun control, as well as crime, look set to be hot topic issues of the 2024 presidential campaign, which is expected to be a rematch of the 2020 race between Biden and Trump.
A Gallup poll in November 2023 found that 56 percent of U.S. adults support stricter gun laws in the country, with Democrats more likely to favor gun reform and Republicans generally opposing it.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
