After meeting with the National Rifle Association and other hunting groups, Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday indicated to reporters that he was zeroing in on a set of recommendations that he would make to President Obama to reduce gun violence in America. Biden, the head of a recently created task force on gun control, suggested that he would, at the very least, recommend a ban of high-capacity magazines and the enactment of "near universal background checks" for gun buyers.
In addition, Biden hinted that he wanted to expand the government's ability to do research on gun violence, which has reportedly been stymied by the gun industry. Biden said the government needs to know "what kind of weapons are used most to kill people," and "what kinds of weapons are trafficked weapons." According to Reuters, about 100 scientists from "virtually every major U.S. university" have signed a letter requesting the government to buck the NRA by lifting restrictions and boosting spending on research for gun violence.
It is also believed that Biden may recommend reinstating the ban on assault weapons that expired in 2004 under President Bush. However, Biden did not confirm that to reporters.
The recommendations are intended to prevent any repeats of the school massacre in Newtown, Conn., which saw a lone gunman kill 26 people in a short period of time using an assault weapon with a high-capacity magazine.
Despite the meeting with Biden, the White House can expect little support from the NRA. Afterward, the group blasted the Obama administration for its "agenda to attack the Second Amendment."
