Biden says Second Amendment is 'not absolute' in call to reinstate assault weapons ban

Biden said Congress should reinstate assault weapons ban, raise purchase age for firearms, pass red flag gun laws. 

President Biden said the Second Amendment is "not absolute" in a speech Thursday following a wave of mass shootings across the nation, pleading with to Congress to pass what he called "commonsense" gun control legislation, including reinstating an assault weapons ban, requiring background checks, and limiting magazine capacity.

The president, speaking from the Cross Hall of the White House, told Americans that the issue of restricting access to guns "is one of conscience and common sense." 

"For so many of you at home, I want to be very clear – this is not about taking away anyone's guns," the president said. "It is not about vilifying gun owners. In fact, we believe we should be treating responsible gun owners as an example of how every gun owner should behave."