Democratic Gov. Polis Refuses to Back Biden’s Call to Ban ‘Assault Weapons’

Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis on Sunday declined to support President Biden’s call to ban so-called “assault weapons,” but said he would be willing to look at more licensing requirements for certain “assault weapons high power”.

Polis, who is relatively conservative on gun issues and has criticized calls to ban assault weapons in the past, was asked by NBC News’ “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd if he would give support for a federal ban on assault weapons proposed by Biden last week after a mass shooting in Colorado Springs.

“In Colorado, we have a magazine limit: 15 rounds, no more than 15 rounds in a magazine. It effectively reduces the ability of high-powered weapons to hurt. Look, I think all of these things, including the red .the flag law and expanding its use should really be looked at,” Polis said. “But again, it’s not just about gun policy. Yes, that should be on the table to be discussed in a thoughtful, rational way. But we also need to talk about mental health. We need to talk about the divisive rhetoric that even some people who aspire to leadership positions in our country, unfortunately, use almost every day.”

After a gunman killed five people and injured dozens more at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado on Nov. 19, Biden said he would push federal lawmakers to enact a new assault weapons ban before January, when the next Congress took office and the Republicans gained control of the House.

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U.S. President Joe Biden (R) smiles as Colorado Gov. Jared Polis delivers remarks about protecting America’s iconic outdoor spaces at Camp Hale near Leadville, Colo., on Oct. 12, 2022.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

“The idea that we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick. Just sick,” Biden said during a press event in Nantucket, Mass., on Thanksgiving Day. “I’ll try to get rid of the assault weapons.”

The president appeared to conflate “assault” weapons with all semi-automatic weapons, which make up a large number of purchases of rifles, pistols and shotguns in the US. A semi-automatic weapon automatically reloads each shot, but only fires one bullet each time the trigger is manually pulled.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with Colorado Governor Jared Polis after disembarking Air Force One at Eagle County Regional Airport in Gypsum, Colo., on October 12, 2022.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

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When Democrats use the controversial term “assault weapons,” they’re usually referring to a group of semi-automatic long rifles, like the AR-15, that can fire 30 rounds without reloading. A 1994 ban that was signed by President Bill Clinton and expired in 2004 specifically banned 19 types of semi-automatic firearms, as well as other rifles, shotguns and pistols that possessed two or more of a certain set of features , including the gun. grips, detachable magazines and sound suppressors. The maximum capacity of a magazine was also set at 10 rounds.

US President Joe Biden walks with Hunter Biden and his wife Melissa Cohen after lunch in Nantucket, Massachusetts on November 25, 2022.
(MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

A study published for the Department of Justice in 2004 found that “the impact of the ban on gun violence is likely to be small at best, and perhaps too small to be reliably measured.”

On Sunday, Todd pressed Polis for a second time on whether he would support a renewal of the ban, and the governor admitted he would be open to looking at more licensing requirements for certain “high-powered weapons.”

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“In general, I supported national efforts to close the gun show loophole, to have a conversation about what kind of weapons were used,” the governor said. “As you know, fully automatic weapons are already effectively banned—we shouldn’t have to say that, there’s a way to get a federal license to operate one. But if you’re talking about a similar process where you need a license or additional background. check out some of the most powerful weapons, I supported them as a member of Congress.”

“That’s the kind of thing we should be looking at nationally, but not to the exclusion of all these other things we’re talking about, which may also be important,” he said, referring to measures to address mental health.