Shortly before President Joe Biden unveiled six executive actions on gun control, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) vowed that his state is going to “protect” Second Amendment rights.
“We’re gonna protect Second Amendment rights in Arizona. There are constitutional rights enumerated in the United States Constitution. I don’t know what the president has in mind but whatever he does, it likely won’t do anything to solve these mass shootings that we’ve had,” Ducey said during Thursday’s appearance on Fox News.
He added, “What we ought to do is we enforce the laws that are already on the books and put bad people in prison.”
Watch his comments below:
Ahead of Biden’s executive actions on gun control, Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) says:
— The Recount (@therecount) April 8, 2021
“We’re gonna protect Second Amendment rights in Arizona … Whatever [Biden] does, it likely won’t do anything to solve these mass shootings that we’ve had.” pic.twitter.com/nAyX15lpGp
Still, the Biden administration does not believe executive actions are not enough, as IJR reported.
“These are all really important steps that he can take within his authority as president, but he would be the first to say this is not enough and Congress also needs to move forward, for example, on the bipartisan background check bills that are in front of them because the majority of the American people believe that we need sensible gun reform,” White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said during a CNN appearance on Thursday.
The president’s executive actions include tightening restrictions on “ghost guns” and stabilizing braces for pistols.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reassured Americans last month, “No one is talking about overturning or changing the Second Amendment.”
She added, “What our focus is on is putting in place common-sense measures that will make our community safer, make families safer, make kids safer.”
The United States experienced two deadly mass shootings in less than one week in March.
“I don’t need to wait another minute – let alone an hour – to take common-sense steps that will save the lives in the future, and I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act,” Biden said following the shootings.
