Need to know: here’s your top 3 national news stories from June 23, 2020
1. Biden and Garland address crime in America
Today President Biden and Attorney General Garland addressed the nation about the recent rise in gun violence in America. So far in 2021, there have been a total of 300 mass shootings, 342 have been killed, and 1,257 have been injured.
“Protecting our communities from violent crime is a top priority for the Department of Justice, and one of our most important responsibilities,” said Garland as he discussed the increase in crime.
Last month, the Justice Department launched a comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy, that is built around four principles: “setting strategic enforcement priorities, fostering trust within earning legitimacy in our communities, investing in community-based prevention and intervention programs, and measuring the results of these efforts through a decrease in violent crime.” said Garland.
President Biden laid out his administration’s plan to tackle this growing issue of guns in America.
“Crime historically rises during the summer. As we emerge from this pandemic, from a country opening back up again, conditional summer spike may be more pronounced than it used to be,” said Biden.
The President made clear that his administration will revoke licenses of gun dealers who do not run background checks on gun buyers. The administration will also revoke licenses of gun dealers who sell guns to individuals who legally aren’t permitted to carry them.
“If you willfully failed and run a background check, if you willfully falsify a record, if you willfully fail to cooperate with integration requests or inspections. My message here is this: we’ll find you and we will seek your license to sell guns. We’ll make sure you can’t sell death and mayhem on our streets,” said Biden.
According to a study Biden’s administration held, it shows that 90% of illegal guns were found in the crime scenes sold by 5% of gun dealers.
“These merchants of death are breaking the wall for profit by selling guns and are killing innocent people. It’s wrong, it’s unacceptable and as the Attorney General said, we’re going to crack down on those gun dealers and the violent criminals they know early on,” said Biden.
Biden stated, “Today the department is announcing as an adjusted measure crackdown on the stem the flow of guns used to commit violent crimes. It’s zero tolerance for gun dealers who willfully violate key existing laws and regulations. I repeat, is zero tolerance.”
Amid the recent rise of gun violence, Biden pleaded with Congress asking them to pass bipartisanship gun violence legislation.
“This shouldn’t be a red or blue issue. It’s an American issue,” Biden stated.
2. FDA to place warnings on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines
On Wednesday, the CDC safety group confirmed that there is a “likely association” between heart inflammatory conditions, myocarditis, or pericarditis, in young people after they receive their second vaccine dose.
According to the CDC, there have been a total of 1,200 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis in people aged 30 or younger who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
The safety group stated that 267 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis were reported after receiving one dose, and 827 cases were reported after receiving two doses.
The FDA is expected to place warnings on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
“This is still a rare event,” said Dr. Tom Shimabukuro. Most cases that are presented are mild and easily treated. Health officials still encourage everyone and especially young people to get vaccinated.
This push to vaccinate America, especially young people, comes after the Delta variant becomes a bigger threat to the nation. The Delta variant now accounts for 20% of Covid cases in the U.S.
3. Britney Spears seeks to end the conservatorship
On Wednesday, singer, and dancer Britney Spears spoke out in a Los Angeles court to address her conservatorship.
Her father, Jamie Spears has been the conservator over her $60 million estate ever since 2008, after the singer was declared unfit to care for herself after struggling with personal issues. Last year Spears’ attorney filed to suspend her father from as the conservator.
In court Britney stated that despite telling the world she is happy, she actually is traumatized. “ I’m not happy, I can’t sleep,” said the singer.
Britney reportedly spoke for about 20 minutes. The singer even criticized her family. She stated that her, “whole family did nothing.”
Britney stated in court that she would like to petition to end her court-ordered conservatorship, without having to clear a health evaluation.
Because of this current conservatorship, Jamie Spears has complete control over Britney’s medical decisions and personal finances.
Many of the performer’s supporters rallied behind her at the #FreeBritney rally during the court session, to show massive support for Britney to have control over her own life.