President Biden on Allen Mall Shooting, Says Gunman Used “AR-15 Style” Handgun.

ALLEN (CBSNewsTexas.com) — After the deadly shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday afternoon, President Biden has since responded, even claiming that the gunman used an AR-15-style assault weapon to carry out the massacre.

According to the Mass Shooting Tracker, Allen marked the 242nd mass shooting in the United States this year. Eight victims were killed and seven remain hospitalized. Their ages range from 5 to 51 years old.

“American communities have experienced approximately 200 mass shootings already this year, according to leading counts,” the president said. “More than 14,000 of our fellow citizens have lost their lives, credible estimates show. The leading cause of death for American children is gun violence.”

He said federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are “working closely” to investigate what led 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia to carry out the shooting.

Garcia, 33, lived in a motel and had no serious criminal record, reporter JD Miles said.

The president went on to say that progress has been made since he signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. “States are banning assault weapons, expanding red flag laws and more, but it’s not enough. We need more action, faster to save lives. Too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables. Republican members of Congress cannot continue to address this epidemic with a shrug of the shoulders. Thoughts and prayers on Twitter are not enough.”

He concluded by asking Congress to send him a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, enacting universal background checks, requiring secure storage, and ending immunity for gunmakers.

“I will sign it immediately,” he said. “We need nothing less to keep our streets safe.”

LIGHT: Political leaders comment on the deadly mass shootings in Allen