President Joe Biden made good on his promise to reschedule a visit to Wilkes-Barre today with a 35-minute speech at the Marts Center on the campus of Wilkes University.
The 46th president focused on law enforcement and his Safer America Plan – his administration’s crime-prevention effort. Biden also took the opportunity to tell Congress to bring back the federal ban on assault-style weapons that was allowed to expire in 2004.
“My Safer America Plan based on simple notion, ” said Biden. “Not defund the police, it’s FUND the police.
“I’m tired of not giving them the help they need. Every Republican in the House. Every Republican in the Senate. Every single one voted against the bill,” talking about the Bipartisan Safer Communities Gun Act.
“We beat the NRA,” he animatedly continued. “We took them on and beat the NRA straight up. You have no idea how intimidating they are to elected officials. We’re not stopping here. I’m determined to ban assault weapons in this country! Determined. I did it once before. And I’ll do it again.”
Biden also brought up statistics from 2021 to highlight the importance of his plan.
“48,000 people died from gunshot wounds in 2021 – 26,000 by suicide,” he said. “When guns are the #1 killer of children in America … more children die from guns than active-duty police and and active-duty military combined.
“We have to act for all those kids that never make the news. Kids need to learn to read in school, not duck and cover.”
The President saved his strongest words for last, calling out congressional Republicans.
“To my MAGA Republican friends in Congress, don’t tell me you support law enforcement if you don’t condemn what happened on the 6th,” he told the audience. “For God’s sake, whose side are you on?
You can’t be pro-law enforcement and pro-insurrection.”
Biden concluded his remarks by confusing the two Democrats running for Pennsylvania statewide office, telling those in the audience to vote for the “Attorney General” for Senate and the “big old guy” for Governor. Attorney General Josh Shapiro is the candidate for governor, while 6-foot-8 John Fetterman is the candidate for Senate.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Gov. Tom Wolf, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) and Shapiro also spoke to the audience. Fetterman was not in attendance, citing a scheduling conflict.
Biden rescheduled his visit to the Wilkes campus after postponing last month due to a bout with COVID-19.
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3 Responses
Joe Biden confusing the candidates for governor and senate should be at the beginning of this article. This has become too common for the media not to make it a major story. It’s insanely clear bias, and it has destroyed the reputation of journalism.
My 5-year-old son and I were there yesterday and it was a very exciting experience with the President. President Biden was truly in his element yesterday, engaging with all those in attendance which reminded me of the Scranton Joe that so many of us have always adored.
Was it exciting because your 5 year old was smarter than the president of the United States?