Biden, Harris call for gun control in separate comments after deadly shooting at Kansas City Chiefs' parade

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Bystanders at the Kansas City Chiefs parade tackle man they suspect is a shooter

After shots interrupted the Kansas City Chiefs parade on Feb. 14, 2024, bystanders tackled who they suspected was an alleged shooter, with one saying, "I got the gun." (Credit: Alyssa Marsh-Contreras via Storyful)

President Biden and Vice President Harris called on Congress to pass stronger gun control measures in separate comments Wednesday night hours after a deadly shooting following the Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City, Missouri.

Biden issued a statement specifically recommending that lawmakers ban assault weapons among other gun control laws, and asked that Americans across the country join him in his stance.

"It is time to act. That’s where I stand. And I ask the country to stand with me. To make your voice heard in Congress so we finally act to ban assault weapons, to limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks, keep guns out of the hands of those who have no business owning them or handling them," Biden said.

The president said the shooting at the Chiefs' victory celebration "cuts deep in the American soul," and claimed that "we know what we have to do, we just need the courage to do it."

KANSAS CITY SHOOTING AT CHIEFS SUPER BOWL PARADE LEAVES AT LEAST 1 DEAD, 22 WOUNDED

President Biden and Vice President Harris both called on lawmakers to pass tougher gun control measures after a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl parade left at least one dead and 22 injured on Wednesday. (Getty Images)

Biden addressed the gun violence epidemic – naming a few shootings that took place elsewhere in the country on Wednesday – and said Americans have the right to go to school, church, walk on the street and attend Super Bowl celebrations without the fear of being shot and killed.

"The epidemic of gun violence is ripping apart families and communities every day. Some make the news. Much of it doesn’t. But all of it is unacceptable. We have to decide who we are as a country," he said.

He offered prayers for the victims and asked that Americans "find the resolve to end this senseless epidemic."

KANSAS CITY RADIO DJ, MOM OF 2 KILLED IN SHOOTING AFTER CHIEFS' SUPER BOWL CELEBRATION

Before departing for Munich, Germany, Harris told reporters on the tarmac that Wednesday was supposed to be a celebratory day in Kansas City, but it became "another day where American has experienced senseless gun violence."

"The reality of it is a lot of this can be prevented if members of legislatures, including the United States Congress, just had the courage to act on reasonable gun safety laws," Harris said. "And I think it's incredibly important for everyone to understand that it doesn't have to be this way. It doesn't have to be this way."

The vice president also offered her prayers for the families of the victims and the community before boarding Air Force 2.

Thousands of Kansas City Chiefs fans were attending the team's Super Bowl LVIII victory parade Wednesday when gunfire erupted, killing at least one and injuring at least 22. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

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Gunshots rang out during the Chiefs' victory parade at about 2 p.m. local time near the Union Station parking garage in Kansas City, killing one woman and injuring 22 others. The woman has been identified as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a mother of two and local radio DJ.

Eleven children were also wounded during the shooting, but were expected to recover as of Wednesday night. Nine of them were shot, while two sustained other injuries.

Three people were taken into custody and at least one weapon was recovered by police, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said Wednesday evening.