Biden says Americans should be able to go bowling without fear of getting shot ... trends now
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited Lewiston, Maine Friday to meet with family members of the victims and first responders nine days after a gunman killed 18 in a bar and a bowling alley.
Upon arriving in Maine, the president and first lady made an unscheduled stop at Schemengees Bar and Grille, one of the two places 40-year-old Robert Card attacked his victims.
They placed a bouquet of flowers at the makeshift memorial out front of Schemengees and then met with first responders at the bowling alley, before Biden delivered a brief speech.
With a 'Lewiston Strong!' behind him, he again pushed for additional gun control measures to be passed.
'This is about common sense, reasonable, responsible measures to protect our children, our families, our communities,' Biden said. 'Because regardless of our politics, this is about protecting our freedom to go to a bowling alley, a restaurant, a school, a church without being shot and killed.'
President Joe Biden said Friday that 'this is about protecting our freedom to go to a bowling alley, a restaurant, a school, a church without being shot and killed,' as he called - again - for additional gun control measures to be passed
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden made an unscheduled stop at Schemengees Bar and Grille, one of the two places where the Lewiston shooting occurred, and left a bouquet of flowers at the makeshift memorial
The Lewiston shooting marked the nation's 36th mass shooting in 2023, according to data from The Associated Press and USA Today, with Biden showcasing his frustration by calling out the names of several others that have occurred during his time as a public official.
'Too many Americans have lost loved ones or survived the trauma of gun violence,' he noted.
'I know because Jill and I have met with them in Buffalo and Uvalde and Monterey Park and Sandy Hook, anyway, too many to count, too many to count. From places that never make the news, all across America,' Biden said.
The horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting happened while Biden was serving as vice president.
After Biden delivered his remarks in front of Just-In-Time Recreation, he and the first lady met with victims' family members behind closed doors.
One of the victims was a 14-year-old bowler, while the local deaf community is in mourning as another was a sign language interpreter.
The president and first lady were hosting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon at a White House state dinner on October 25 when news broke of the horrendous Maine shooting.
President Joe Biden (left), with first lady Jill Biden (right), delivered brief remarks Friday outside Just-In-Time Recreation, the bowling alley where part of the Lewiston shooting took place
Republican Sen. Susan Collins briefly used sign language as she delivered her remarks Friday, as one of the 18 victims was a sign language interpreter
Biden stepped out of the glitzy dinner to get briefed on the mass shooting and manhunt and later that night spoke by phone to Maine Gov. Janet
