President Joe Biden honored survivors of gun violence in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, moments before traveling to Delaware to be with his son, who was just found guilty of three firearms charges.
During his remarks, Biden repeatedly praised his record on implementing stricter gun control laws, but did not mention his son Hunter, 54, or the irony that the event took place on the same day the jury ruled. in the federal weapons case.
However, he did make reference to his late son Beau Biden and how he was able to relate to the families of victims of gun violence because of the call he received informing him of his son’s death.
“I know it’s hard because I also got those phone calls saying I lost a son, a daughter, a wife; I know what it’s like,” the president said at the Washington Hilton during his remarks on his gun restriction policies at the US summit. Everytown’s Gun Sense University.
‘But guess that? Never lose hope, hope, hope, hope,” she added.
President Joe Biden mentioned receiving the call that his son Beau Biden died during his remarks on addressing gun violence on Tuesday, but he did not mention his son Hunter Biden, who was just convicted hours earlier of three felonies related to Firearms.
Hours earlier, the 12-member jury in the Hunter Biden gun case returned a verdict finding him guilty of all three felonies for lying on a form about his addiction to purchasing a firearm in 2018 and possessing and operating a gun. of fire while a user of illicit substances was present.
Following the ruling, Biden decided to change his schedule to Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon to be with his family.
While the president was not present at the weeklong trial, other family members, including first lady Jill Biden, were in the courtroom supporting Hunter.
“As I said last week, I am the president, but I am also a dad,” the president wrote in a statement after the ruling and before his comments. “Jill and I love our son and are very proud of the man he is today.”
“Many families whose loved ones have struggled with addiction understand the feeling of pride in seeing someone you love come out on the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery,” Biden continued.
A 12-member jury in Delaware found Hunter Biden guilty of three felonies related to his 2018 gun purchase, where he lied about his use and addiction to illicit drugs.
Hunter faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, although first-time offenders typically do not receive the harshest punishment.
At the event, Biden also made his most recent verbal gaffe by claiming that he has been to several “mass shootings.”
“I’ve been to too many — I’ve talked to literally over a thousand families at these events that I’ve attended — mass shootings,” Biden told the anti-gun audience.
“Look into their eyes, you can almost feel that black hole they feel in the center of their chest, like they’re being sucked in, there’s no way out,” he continued, ignoring the gaffe.