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Biden Announces New Efforts to Combat Gun Violence. Aired 1:30- 2p ET

Aired February 03, 2022 - 13:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[13:30:00]

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It would clearly influence, I think, some of the things they're going to do next.

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: I appreciate you both very much. Bob Baer and Colonel Cedric Leighton, thank you very much for joining us.

Coming up, we'll hear from President Biden live from New York City as he launches a new effort to fight a rise in gun crime.

Plus, a new positive sign that the economy could be turning the Omicron corner. New weekly jobless claims falling for a second straight week. Details just ahead.

And a new bombshell allegation against the NFL. A former head coach for the Cleveland Browns now says he, too, was offered cash to lose games.

Stay with us. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Senator Gillibrand and I talked about that on the way up as well.

I've spoken to their families. And their loss for the city is also a loss for the nation. You know, futures cut short by a man with a stolen Glock with 40 rounds. A magazine with 40 rounds. And it's really a weapon of war.

One of the things I was proudest of, years ago, when I was in the Senate, I was able to get these weapons and size of magazines outlawed. That got changed, got overruled.

But I don't see any rationale why there should be such a weapon able to be purchased. It doesn't violate anybody's Second Amendment rights to deny that opportunity.

But anyway, their futures were cut short by a man with a stolen Glock and a 40-round magazine.

And I tell you, I want to thank the man back to my left. I think he's sitting back there, for taking it on.

Stand up.

(APPLAUSE)

BIDEN: As they used to say, a point of personal privilege, when everything -- when the economy died in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and I moved down to Delaware with my dad and mom and family, I moved to a little town in Delaware.

And it was a steel town just across the border from Pennsylvania. Right up in that arc. And I went to -- I spent 12 years going to school there. Actually not 12. I started in third grade.

[13:35:05]

At any rate, I went to a school, a little Catholic school called Holy Rose across from a small police department and fire hall. And everybody that I grew up with either became a cop, a firefighter or a priest.

I wasn't qualified for any of them, so here I am.

But I admire the hell out of all of you. I really do. I mean it sincerely.

And to the many parents, spouses, brothers, sisters who have to bury a piece of their soul in the deep earth, it's really tough stuff. It's hard as hell, as you all know it, to lose a colleague, to lose a son, daughter, husband, wife.

And I want to thank -- if they're not many here, but I want to thank all the spouses of every one of you for your significant other.

Because every time you pin that shield on and walk out the door, they are worried whether they'll get that phone call. Get that phone call. Too many have gotten the phone call lately.

And every day in this country, 316 people are shot, 106 are killed, and six NYPD officers have been victims of gun violence so far just this year.

The same in a town north of me, Philadelphia, and my much smaller town of Wilmington, Delaware, Washington, D.C.

And 64 children injured by gun violence so far this year, 26 killed.

It's enough. Enough is enough because we know we can do things about this, but for the resistance we're getting from some sectors of the government and the Congress and the state legislatures and the organizational structures out there.

You know, Mayor Adams, you and I agree. The answer is not to abandon our streets. That's not the answer. The answer is to come together. Police in communities building trust and making us all safer.

The answer is not to defund the police. It's to give you the tools, the training, the funding to be partners, to be protectors and community needs you. And know the community.

You know --

(APPLAUSE)

BIDEN: -- police --

(APPLAUSE)

BIDEN: Police treat everyone with respect and dignity. That's why I called on the Congress to pass a budget later this year that provides cities like New York and others with an additional $300 million for community policing.

You know, where the police interact with the community, get to know the community, build trust in the community.

And I have noticed, in my experience, when I wrote the first crime bill, I noticed that, you know, I don't hear many communities, no matter what their color, their background saying I don't want more protection in my community.

I don't know. I haven't found one of those yet.

And so I've asked the Congress to provide $200 million to invest in community violence intervention programs as well. They work. They work. Where community members with credibility work directly with people most likely to commit crimes or be victims of gun crimes.

And they work. For example, in 2017, the program I'm going to see this afternoon, which sends people to the community -- in the community to interrupt violence, to mediate conflict, to de-escalate, succeed in preventing single -- a single shooting from occurring in this largest public housing development last year.

No shooting for a full year. Because they engaged directly with the community.

You know, I know this is a priority for Senator Schumer, what you all are doing here. If I hear one more call from him that we need more money for housing and more money for cops, I don't know, I'm going to send him back to you all.

(LAUGHTER)

BIDEN: But all kidding aside, this is a half a billion dollars of proven strategies. And we know will reduce crime.

Congress needs to do its job to pass the budget. Every one of these folks here from Congress are all supportive.

But, you know, it's time to fund communities, community police and the people who are going to protect them.

Look, as I said, we're not about defunding. We're about funding and providing the additional services you need beyond someone with a gun strapped to their shoulders or to their hip.

We need more social workers, mental health workers, more people who when you're called on these scenes and someone is about to jump off a roof is not just someone standing there with a weapon.

It's someone who also knows how to talk to people. Talk them down. We can't expect you to do every single solitary thing that needs to be done to keep a community safe.

It's time to fund community policing to protect and serve the community.

I'm also calling for increased funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco and the U.S. Marshalls Office. I'm confident, if we fund these programs, we'll see a reduction in violence.

[13:40:07]

And in next year's budget, I'm also going to try to double down on this investment. I think I've got a lot of partners here. And New York is going to help.

Mayor Adams, you say that gun violence is a sea fed by many rivers. Well, you know, I put forward a plan to dam up some of those streams. You know, you can count on me to be a partner in that effort.

I have a United States attorney general here with me today. We put together a comprehensive strategy to combat crime in New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and so many other cities, San Francisco.

First, we want to crack down on the flow of firearms used to commit violence. That includes taking on and shutting down rogue gun dealers.

It's about doing background checks. As well as outright selling of -- making sure that people who are not allowed to have a gun don't get the gun in the first place.

Again, for any of the press listening, this doesn't violate anybody's Second Amendment right. There's no violation of the Second Amendment right.

We talk like there's no amendment that's absolute. When the amendment was passed, it didn't say anybody can own a gun and any kind of weapon.

You couldn't buy a cannon and when the -- this amendment was passed. So no reason why it should be able to buy certain assault weapons. But that's another issue. And, look, one of the things that we focused on, the attorney general

and I, and we're getting to the point where we're going to be able to have a real impact on it, includes going after ghost guns.

Ghost guns are the guns everyone in this room knows that can be purchased in parts, assembled at home, no serial number, can't be traced.

And there as deadly as any other weapon out there. But the fact is they are out there.

You know, this spring the Justice Department, this spring, the Justice Department will issue a final rule to regulate these so-called ghost guns.

But there's more we can do. Across the country, police departments report sharp increases in the number of ghost guns found at crime scenes.

That's why today the department is launching an intensified national ghost gun enforcement initiative to determine and deter criminals from using those weapons to cover their tracks.

If you commit a crime with a ghost gun, not only are state and local prosecutors going to come after you but expect federal charges and federal prosecution as well.

We've also created a strike force to crack down on illegal gun trafficking across state lines.

As the mayor said, as he pointed out, guns are used to kill people in New York City, they aren't made in New York City. They aren't sold in New York City. They are sold in other places.

Today, the attorney general directed all U.S. attorneys in the United States to prioritize combating gun trafficking across state lines and city boundaries.

The Justice Department is sending additional prosecutorial resources to help shut down what's referred to, as you all know, the Iron Pipeline, that funnels guns from shops in states like Georgia to crime scenes in Baltimore and Philadelphia and New York and so many other places.

Governor, you worked with the mayor in the NYPD and nine other states to create an interstate task force on illegal guns. That's the kind of leadership that's going to solve the problem. And I'm eager to hear more about that progress.

Folks, the second thing I want to point out is I want to help every major city follow New York's lead, to put together partnerships like this one you put together to meet on a daily basis.

Every day, here in New York City, like this meeting today, federal, state and local enforcement meet to share intelligence about arrests, shootings from the day before, and work to take those shooters off the street as quickly as possible.

Just look around. This was what partnership looks like and what you put together. It's an important partnership. We need more cities adopting the same model.

That's why today the attorney general is also directing U.S. attorneys to work with state and local law enforcement to strengthen partnerships like this one and to get repeat gun violence offenders off the street and behind bars.

You know, I want more cities and states to use some of the $350 billion we sent to them on the American Rescue Plan to fight crime, to keep our communities safe by hiring more police officers for community policing and paying police overtime.

And purchasing gun-fighting technologies like the technologies that hears, locates gunshots, so there can be immediate response because you know exactly where it came from.

[13:45:10]

Third thing our plan calls for, investing critical services that reduce crime and violence. Community violence intervention programs like the one I'm going to see after this meeting, summer school, after-school programs for teens.

As the saying goes, teachers taught me, idle mind is the devil's workshop. We've got to have things for these kids to do. Jobs for young adults. More school counselors and nurses. More mental health required in school and mental health substance abuse treatment as well.

Fourthly, when someone finishes their time in prison, all our experience tells us you just can't continue to give them 25 bucks and a bus ticket. They'll end up under the same bridge you arrested them from in the first place.

So I don't want them ending up back in prison. Or being there because they've committed another crime.

We need to be able to train for and get a job. Find stable housing. Re-enter society and have a second chance at a better life.

My Department of Labor is funding programs to help formerly incarcerated individuals, including young adults, receive the training and education they need and then connect them to quality jobs.

I'll keep doing everything in my power to make sure the communities are safer, but Congress needs to do its part, too.

Pass universal background checks, ban assault weapons and high- capacity magazines, close loopholes that keep out of the hands of domestic abusers weapons.

Repeal the liability shield for gun manufacturers. Imagine had we had a liability bill, the only industry in America that is exempted from being able to be sued by the public. Only one.

Imagine had that been the way with cigarette manufacturers. Where the hell would -- where the heck would we be? We'd be in tough shape.

Why gun manufacturers? Because of the power of their lobbying. It's got to end. End. They've got to be held responsible for the things that they do that are irresponsible.

And, folks, you know, it's the only industry in America who I said that's exempt from being sued. And I think I find it to be outrageous.

And folks, these laws, if we're able to pass them, are going to save lives and, equally importantly, help protect one another and protect yourself. Put law enforcement in a safer circumstance.

We have an opportunity to come together and fulfill the first responsibility of government and our democracy, to keep each other safe.

So I want to thank you all. There's much more to say but I probably already said too much because a lot of people are going to speak.

But let's get this done. Let's get this done.

And God bless the men and women who put their lives on the line every single day to keep our community safe.

Now I'm going to turn it over, with your permission, to the attorney general, Attorney General Garland.

General?

MERRICK GARLAND, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Thank you, President Biden.

CABRERA: You've been listening to President Biden discussing his administration's efforts to combat gun violence and violent crime more broadly.

CNN's chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, is with us.

And it's taking place here in New York, Kaitlan. Why New York? Why now?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The White House said New York City is a good example of a place that's seen an uptick in crime because of the pandemic. Since the pandemic has happened.

But as we know well, it's not just New York City. It's something that's happening nationwide.

That's why one of the efforts the president was talking about there. He said there's some steps being taken here in New York that he wants to see other cities nationwide mirroring.

He was complimenting the new lie minted New York City Mayor Eric Adams, someone who has similar views as the president when it comes to the moderate wing of the Democratic Party.

But President Biden says he also wants to see this happening on a nationwide scale. So they talked about having U.S. attorneys across the United States crack down more on violent crime that you're seeing at the local level.

He also talked about ghost guns where you can buy a kit online and build guns at home. There's no serial number. It's a lot harder for them to trace.

While some gun experts have downplayed how prevalent they are, the president said they want to prosecute them not just at local and state level but also have them face federal charges as well.

So really just talking about this overall effort.

But really, I think what is at the heart of what you're seeing with the president's visit here today is that he wants people to know that he is addressing this national crime wave that we're seeing.

Crime up everywhere across the United States. He wants people to know this is something he's focused on.

You saw him reference several times there that he's not in favor of defunding the police but he was talking about smarter ways to do that and talking about support for police officers.

[13:50:01]

That has been a message that he -- at one point, when he was on in the Democratic field in the primary leading up to the presidential election, he was often sometimes the lone voice in the way he spoke about policing.

Now that has shifted some as crime has gone up because of the pandemic and the president is trying to use that and trying to build off of that here with this trip to New York.

Of course, the big question is whether these efforts actually do bring down the violent crime that you have seen. And that is going to be a challenge for the White House to do that.

And also to address crime while also talking about excessive policing and abusive policing and making sure that they're striking that balance as well when it come to their party -- Ana?

CABRERA: Kaitlan Collins, thank you for your reporting.

Let's discuss with Andrew McCabe, a CNN senior law enforcement analyst and the former deputy director of the FBI.

Andrew, your thoughts on the president's strategy. Will it work?

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I think it's got to work, right? We're in a very desperate situation with these increases in crime, a 30 percent increase in homicides from 2020 -- in 2020 and likely a similar increase we'll see this year.

I think the president's doing an important thing by coming out first in strong support to the law enforcement community.

He needs to really erase any doubt about this confusion over defund the police and those sorts of things and make it clear that this administration is behind the law enforcement community, willing to put their money where their mouth is.

They've done that by supporting the hiring of over 1,000 police officers around the country. So that's the first thing.

Second thing is the steps that he's proposing to take. Some of them, I think, will have a direct effect on this wave of gun violence. You know, targeting interstate trafficking of handguns is a good thing.

But what I would like to see more of, Ana, is just a basic commitment to prosecuting people at the federal level for simple gun offenses like possession, possession of a firearm for a felon.

Those sorts of things that come in the door every day at the state and local level but often our state and local partners don't have the resources to really ensure that anyone who carries a gun with intent to commit a crime does jail time.

There's absolutely no reason why that shouldn't be the case. And the federal government can help out a lot in that way if they put prosecutors on that task.

CABRERA: It is obviously going to be a huge team effort, community effort, and more.

I do want to emphasize some of the stats that you brought up. In 2021, 10 of the most populous U.S. cities set homicide records, according to a CNN analysis of police data.

And that followed a 2020 nationwide increase in murders that the CDC says was the largest for a single year in more than a century.

Andrew, why do you think violent crime is on the rise?

MCCABE: Well, look, Ana, we've got to call out the elephant in the room, and that is the number of guns that continues to flood across this country.

So I was looking at some numbers just before we went on. So, you see increases of a few million background checks.

If you look at the FBI's division that conducts the background checks for firearm sales, in 2019 -- I'm sorry, 2018, there were over 26 million background checks that year. That's one background check for each permit, application, or gun sale.

In 2019, the number went up to 28 million. And then from 2019 to 2020, the number of checks went from 28 million to 39 million background checks just in that one year. So, that wave, that infusion of guns on to the streets, into people's

homes, into people's hands has an inextricable impact on violent crime. And I think we're seeing the results of that right now.

CABRERA: We have reporting today on the challenges in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers nationwide.

And there are a number of factors, we know. The pandemic, low morale, pay, defund police rhetoric that we've heard.

Is this a unique moment when you have all these different challenges sort of converging and affecting law enforcement at one time?

MCCABE: I think it really is unique. I mean, some of these things have been simmering for many years. The struggles at the state and local level in recruiting and retaining police officers have been going on for the last decade.

So, you take that kind of persistent problem and add to it the COVID pandemic, which makes the job even harder and even more dangerous than it is regularly.

And then add on all this erosion of trust in the police because of these notorious instances of abuse of force and the protests against the police, it's just a very, very hard time to be a police officer in this country.

And you can see why it's not -- it's becoming a less attractive career alternative to young people. We need to turn that around.

The president will help that a lot by coming out definitively behind the police, supporting police, and helping local -- state and local police departments with the funding to hire people maybe at better salaries.

[13:55:10]

CABRERA: Andrew McCabe, again, thank you very much for your expertise. It's always good to have you here. Appreciate you.

MCCABE: Thanks, Ana.

CABRERA: That does it for us today. I hope you'll join us again tomorrow, same time, same place, 1:00 eastern. Until then, you can join me on Twitter, @AnaCabrera. We'll see you tomorrow.

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