WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden reiterated his call for an assault weapons ban and other gun safety measures on Sunday, following a tragic shooting at a Texas shopping mall that claimed the lives of eight people. The incident is yet another “senseless” act of violence that has shaken the nation.
Eyewitnesses, distressed bystanders, and law enforcement described scenes of panic and horror on Saturday at an outlet mall north of Dallas. Video footage circulating online captured the shooter exiting a sedan in the mall’s parking lot and opening fire on pedestrians with a semi-automatic rifle.
An officer already present at the mall on an unrelated call quickly responded and “neutralized” the shooter, according to the police. The heavily armed gunman’s identity has not yet been released, and no motive has been established.
When additional law enforcement arrived, they discovered the suspect’s body along with seven others at the scene. Two additional victims succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, while three remain in critical surgery and four are reported to be in stable condition, as stated by Allen fire chief Jonathan Boyd on Saturday.
In response to the tragic incident, President Joe Biden on Sunday issued a proclamation “as a mark of respect for the shooting victims” in Allen. He ordered the lowering of US flags to half-staff.
However, he also urged Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban that he had helped pass as a senator in 1994, which expired in 2004. Biden’s call includes banning high-capacity magazines, implementing universal background checks for gun purchasers, and ending immunity for gun manufacturers.
Texas shooting incident
This incident is the latest in a distressing trend of deadly gun violence in the United States. Just a week earlier, a man fatally shot five neighbors in Cleveland, Texas, after being asked to stop firing his rifle in his yard at night while a baby was sleeping. In recent weeks, several Americans have lost their lives due to petty disputes or innocent mistakes such as knocking on the wrong door or entering the wrong car.
With the country saturated with firearms, the Gun Violence Archive, a non-governmental organization, reports 199 mass shootings in the US so far this year. The organization defines a mass shooting as an incident where four or more people are injured or killed.
“Too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables,” Biden lamented, criticizing his opponents for their lack of action. “Republican members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug. Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.”
The shooting took place at Allen Premium Outlets, located 35 miles (55 kilometers) north of Dallas, during a busy time for weekend shoppers. The officer on site responded promptly upon hearing gunshots, engaged the suspect, and neutralized him, said Allen police chief Brian Harvey.
President Biden joined local officials in commending the swift actions of law enforcement, acknowledging that lives were likely saved. The victims ranged in age from five to 61, according to a hospital official who spoke to NBC News.
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas called the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy.” However, when pressed on whether restricting guns could be a solution, he declined to provide a direct answer. Governor Abbott suggested that addressing mental health issues, including the increased levels of anger and violence in America, would be a more significant long-term solution.
Steven Spainhouer, a former police officer who arrived at the scene, described the horrific sights he encountered as he performed CPR on victims before emergency responders arrived. He recalled finding a female victim with no pulse, a son of another victim covered in his mother’s blood.
