“Jill and I are shocked by the mindless gun violence that has but once more introduced grief to an American group on this Independence Day,” the president mentioned in an announcement Monday after at the very least six individuals have been killed in a taking pictures in Highland Park, Illinois, throughout a July Fourth parade.

Biden famous that he had “surged Federal legislation enforcement to help within the pressing seek for the shooter,” and pointed to the gun security laws he not too long ago signed into legislation. (Authorities mentioned Monday night they’ve taken into custody “an individual of curiosity” linked to the taking pictures.) “However there may be way more work to do, and I am not going to surrender combating the epidemic of gun violence,” Biden added.

Police questioning individual of curiosity in lethal Highland Park parade taking pictures

Afterward Monday, Biden declined to say whether or not stricter gun legal guidelines would have prevented the lethal taking pictures when pressed by CNN’s MJ Lee. “We do not know the circumstances but,” he mentioned.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who’s in California for the vacation, touted the not too long ago signed laws in her personal assertion, however added, “At present’s taking pictures is an unmistakable reminder that extra must be performed to deal with gun violence in our nation.”

‘At what level do we are saying sufficient?’ Highland Park mayor says

Biden held a short second of silence on the White Home Monday night throughout a July Fourth picnic, noting that he’d spoken to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering.

In remarks commemorating the vacation with navy households on the White Home earlier within the afternoon, the President made reference to the brand new gun security legislation and the Illinois taking pictures, saying, “You all heard what occurred at present. … Every day we’re reminded there’s nothing assured about our democracy, nothing assured about our lifestyle.”

Loving grandfather, lifelong synagogue member amongst victims of Highland Park taking pictures

Biden referred to as on People to battle for democracy, whereas additionally broadly acknowledging nationwide challenges.

“Our financial system is rising, however not with out ache. Liberty is beneath assault — assault each right here and overseas,” he mentioned, alluding to the US Supreme Courtroom overturning Roe v. Wade final month.

“In latest days, there’s been cause to assume that this nation is shifting backwards. That freedom has been decreased. That rights we assumed are not — a reminder that we stay in an ongoing battle for the soul of America, as we have now for over 200 years.”

The July Fourth vacation comes amid a difficult time for the nation marked by deepening division, inflation and a latest set of polling displaying that the overwhelming majority of People throughout occasion strains are sad with the state of the US.

Witnesses describe chaos from parade taking pictures

In an AP-NORC survey launched final week, 85% of US adults say that issues within the nation are headed within the incorrect path, with simply 14% believing issues are moving into the proper path. That is a extra pessimistic studying than in Might, when 78% mentioned issues have been headed the incorrect means and 21% that issues have been usually shifting in the proper path. And at the moment, each 92% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats are dissatisfied with the path of the nation — the best quantity amongst Democrats since Biden took workplace final 12 months.

Nonetheless, Biden tried to reassure People, saying, “I do know it may be exhausting and unsettling, however tonight I need you to know we will get by all this.”

America, he emphasised, is and at all times will probably be a “work in progress.”

“It has so usually been the case that after we have taken large steps ahead, we have taken just a few steps backwards. And after doing the laborious work of laying the inspiration for a greater future, the worst of our previous has reached out and pulled us again from time to time. However I do know this: From the deepest depths of our worst crises, we have at all times risen to our larger heights,” Biden advised the gang on the South Garden. “We have at all times come out higher than we went in.”

Earlier within the day, Biden had launched a forward-looking assertion about how the “greatest days nonetheless lie forward.”

“The Fourth of July is a sacred day in our nation — it is a time to have a good time the goodness of our nation, the one nation on Earth based based mostly on an thought: that every one persons are created equal,” Biden mentioned in a tweet. “Make no mistake, our greatest days nonetheless lie forward.”

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