Brad Brooks and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON/UVALDE (Texas) (Reuters) – Uvalde residents were promised action on gun violence by Joe Biden, the U.S. president. On Monday, Biden appealed to rational Republicans to reduce high-caliber guns and to take other measures to stop mass shootings.

Biden (a Democrat) said that things had gotten worse and everyone was becoming more rational as a result. He returned to reporters after a weekend trip in which he visited the memorials of the two teachers, 19 students, and the victims in last week’s school massacre.

Biden declared that “the idea of these high caliber weapons — it simply has no rational basis in terms of hunting self-protection.”

Recent mass shootings have claimed hundreds of American lives. Similar talks held in Washington to discuss ways of reducing them failed to produce any concrete action from Congress. Both parties are deeply divided. Biden’s Democrats would be open to gun purchase restrictions, while Republicans will defend their expansive view of gun rights.

Nearly a week has passed since an 18 year-old killed his grandmother and then headed to Robb Elementary School, southern Texas with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle. He also injured at least 17 other people.

While local police stood by for almost an hour while children called 911 to plead for help, the Border Patrol tactical team stormed into the area and shot the gunman.

On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Justice stated that it will review Uvalde’s responses to law enforcement. Some Texas Democrats are also calling for an FBI separate investigation.

Biden met with the families of those who lost their homes and met first responders and other emergency personnel to urge them to do something.

Biden stated, “We will.”

Since 1999, when Columbine High School was attacked by two students gunmen in Colorado, little has been done to change the situation. Mass school shootings, including at Virginia Tech University and Sandy Hook Elementary schools in Connecticut, have been a regular occurrence since then.

According to FBI data, there were 61 incidents involving “active shooters” in American schools last year. 10 victims were murdered at an NY supermarket in Buffalo earlier this month.

Biden supported multiple initiatives, including the renewal of the ban on assault weapons and universal background checks. The president has backed multiple actions, even though his fellow Democrats hold a narrow control of Congress. He pointed out the limitations of executive power and encouraged lawmakers to take action.

For any bill to be passed, Democrats must have the support of at least 10 Republican senators.

The talks between Democratic Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut and Republican Senator John Cornyn in Texas will continue next week. The problem is that Congress is in recess from June 6 to 6, increasing the possibility of a loss of momentum.

Some states have attempted to change their gun laws, such as Connecticut and Florida, which have both been the victims of mass shootings.