Kamala Harris calls for assault weapons ban: ‘We are not sitting around waiting’

Kamala Harris called for a ban on assault weapons in the US and the passage of much-delayed gun control legislation after speaking on Saturday at a funeral for the oldest victim of the Buffalo mass shooting earlier this month.

After giving remarks at the service for Ruth Whitfield, the oldest person killed during the grocery store shooting two weeks ago, Harris called upon lawmakers to pass an assault weapons ban, while speaking with reporters.

Related: ‘Enough is enough’: Harris addresses funeral of Ruth Whitfield after Buffalo shooting

“Everybody’s got to stand up and agree that this should not be happening in our country,” said Harris, noting that Joe Biden would be visiting Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday, the site of Tuesday’s mass shooting where 21 people, including 19 children, were killed.

“We are not sitting around, waiting to figure out what the solution looks like,” said Harris. “We know what works on this. It includes – let’s have an assault weapons ban.”

“An assault weapon is a weapon of war,” Harris added, “with no place in a civil society.”

Harris also called for universal background checks on gun purchases, which is a law long blocked by Republicans in the US Senate.

“Why should anyone be able to buy a weapon that can kill other human beings without at least knowing, ‘Hey, has that person committed a violent crime before? Are they are a threat against themselves or others?,’” she said.

Citing the over 200 mass shootings that have already taken place this year, Harris urged legislators to take action. “Congress needs to act and what I know is that we also have to come together, as one nation, undivided, standing with each other,” she said.