Parkland families, Miami-Dade Mayor Levine Cava celebrate passage of gun legislation at White House
FORT LAUDERDALE – Several Parkland families who lost loved ones in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava joined President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday to celebrate the passage of historic gun legislation.
The Safer Communities Act, the gun safety, mental health, and school safety law, passed by strong bipartisan majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House and was swiftly signed into law by President Biden last month. It's the first major federal gun safety legislation to become law in nearly 26 years.
President Biden said this legislation is not the end, but rather a call to action to do more.
"Make no mistake about it, this legislation is real progress but more has to be done. The provision of this legislation is going to save lives and it's proof that in today's politics we can together on a bipartisan basis to get important things done. Even on an issue as tough as guns," said Biden.
Levine Cava posted on Twitter that "the Safer Communities Act is an important step forward that will save lives and better protect communities everywhere from gun violence."
Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin died in the Parkland school shooting, was also in attendance. Before the event, he said he wished more could have been passed.
"You know very well what I've been preaching for. Even the president asked for more and it's not happening. So, I really wish there was more in this package of bills. And I will do whatever I can to get more in this package of bills. This is not the beginning or the end. A lot of people are saying this is the beginning. No, this is part of a process," he said.
During the President's remarks, Oliver shouted out an interruption, saying more needs to be done. Biden took it in stride.
"Let me finish my comments, let him talk, let him talk, OK," said Biden.
The $13 billion bipartisan law enhances background checks for gun buyers younger than 21, makes it harder for domestic abusers to purchase a firearm, and provides more money for mental health services, including $750 million for crisis intervention programs.
Afterwards Oliver told CBS News Miami he thought it was important to stand up and call for more action on gun reform. Oliver wants the assault weapons ban reinstated.
"My son was shot four times with an assault rifle. What have they done about that?"
Oliver also wants the president to appoint a gun violence chief.
