Joe Biden issues gun order in California city where 11 Asian-Americans died in mass shooting

Name: Man who wrestled and disarmed California mass shooter hailed a hero
Uploaded: 2023-03-14T22:06:43.000Z
Duration: 3 min 45 s
Description: Man who wrestled and disarmed California mass shooter hailed a hero

Visiting Monterey Park, site of January massacre at a dance studio, the president signs an executive order strengthening background checks before firearm sales

‘I’m here on behalf of the American people to let you know you’re loved and not alone,’ Biden says before paying tribute to each of the victims

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US President Joe Biden speaks on efforts to reduce gun violence on Tuesday in Monterey Park, California. Photo: AP

Bochen Hanin WashingtonandXinlu Liangin Hong Kong

Published: 6:06am, 15 Mar 2023Updated: 10:23pm, 15 Mar 2023

Almost two months after a pair of deadly shootings in California rocked the Asian-American community, US President Joe Biden on Tuesday made a visit to Monterey Park, California – where 11 people were shot to death at a dance studio – and signed an executive order strengthening background checks before gun sales.

“I’m here on behalf of the American people to mourn with you, to pray with you, to let you know you’re loved and not alone,” Biden said, before paying tribute to each of the Monterey Park victims.

“This executive order helps keep firearms out of dangerous hands as I continue to call on Congress to require background checks for all firearm sales,” he said.

The executive order encourages federal agencies to maximise implementation of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer. It directs the US attorney general to publicly identify federally licensed firearms dealers who violate laws and to develop plans to prevent dealers with revoked licences from operating.

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Man who wrestled and disarmed California mass shooter hailed a hero

It also orders his cabinet agencies to promote the use of “red flag” laws – which allow community members to petition courts to remove firearm access from dangerous individuals – and to develop a proposal for how the federal government can mobilise resources for mass shootings in ways that it does for natural disasters.