President Joe Biden urged Congress on Sunday to send him a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Biden said in a statement that the gunman who killed eight people at Allen Premium Outlets he used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. A police officer responding to an unrelated call killed the gunman, according to Allen police.
Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people, including the shooter, died at the scene.
Nine victims were taken by ambulance to trauma centers. Two of those victims died after reaching hospitals, bringing the total to eight dead victims as of Saturday night.
Three of the surviving victims were in critical condition and undergoing surgery, while four were in stable condition as of Saturday night. The victims included children. The Medical City Healthcare system said it was treating eight patients between the ages of 5 and 61.
Below is Biden’s statement:
“Eight Americans, including children, were killed yesterday in the latest act of gun violence to devastate our nation. Jill and I are praying for their families and others seriously injured, and we are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly and bravely to save lives.
“Federal, state and local law enforcement are working closely to investigate this attack and I have directed federal agencies to provide all necessary support.
“Yesterday, a tactically-suited assailant armed with an AR-15-style assault weapon shot and killed innocent people in a shopping mall, and not for the first time. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. And yet, American communities have already suffered approximately 200 mass shootings this year, according to leading counts. More than 14,000 of our fellow citizens have lost their lives, according to credible estimates. The leading cause of death for American children is gun violence.
“Since I signed the bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law and took two dozen executive actions to stem the wave of gun violence, we’ve made some progress. States are banning assault weapons, expanding red flag laws and more, but it’s not enough. We need more action, faster to save lives.
“Too many families have empty chairs at their tables. Republican members of Congress cannot continue to face this epidemic with a shrug. Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.
“Once again I ask Congress to send me a bill banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Enact universal background checks. Requires secure storage. End the immunity of arms manufacturers. I’ll sign it right away. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe.”