Following the tragic attack on Dallas police officers late last week, CBS anchor Scott Pelley took it upon himself on Monday to pressure Vice President Joe Biden for the Obama administration ban so-called ‘armor piercing rounds.” “Late today we asked Joe Biden about the ready availability of armor-piercing bullets,” he stated on CBS Evening News, “Dallas' mayor has blamed them for penetrating his officers' vests.”
Pelley seemed to go after Biden right out of the gate, “Why hasn't your administration restricted the sale of armor-piercing rounds through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives?” The vice president responded by saying he and Pat Moynihan tried to ban them in the past. But he blamed the bill’s failure on Congressional Republicans and the gun evil gun lobby.
The anchor wouldn’t let it rest, “What is the administration willing to do to restrict the sales of armor-piercing rounds now, after Dallas?” Biden said they were prepared to do everything, but Pelley demanded more. “Sir, can you be more specific? Are you going to do something through the ATF, or is it going to be an executive action,” Pelley said, sounding a little annoyed.
Biden cautioned that, “there is a concern that if, in fact, we go ahead and do it, what the response will be from the United States Congress in a way that may be able to override a veto.” But Pelley kept pushing, “Is it worth a try even if you face a veto?”
Transcript below:
CBS
Evening News
July 11, 2016
6:40:02 PM EasternSCOTT PELLEY: Today law enforcement officials criticized president Obama in a private meeting at the white house. They complained that he isn't expressing enough support for police. Mr. Obama said the lawmen were forgetting his past statements.
6:40:16 PM Eastern
The vice president was also in the meeting, and late today we asked Joe Biden about the ready availability of armor-piercing bullets. Dallas' mayor has blamed them for penetrating his officers' vests.
[Cuts to video]
Mr. Vice president, the Dallas officers were killed with armor-piercing rounds.
JOE BIDEN: Exactly!
PELLEY: Why hasn't your administration restricted the sale of armor-piercing rounds through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives?
BIDEN: We've been trying to do that for a long time. Do you remember first bill...
PELLEY: It hasn't happened, sir.
BIDEN: I know it hasn't. The first bill introduced to stop armor-piercing bullets was introduced by Pat Moynihan and me years ago. And so what we get is the constant, constant, constant pushback from the gun lobby and the Republican Congress.
PELLEY: What is the sporting purpose of armor-piercing rounds?
BIDEN: There is none, zero, zero, zero, zero.
PELLEY: What is the administration willing to do to restrict the sales of armor-piercing rounds now, after Dallas?
BIDEN: Before Dallas and after Dallas, we're prepared to do everything we can to be able to do that and have it stick.
PELLEY: Sir, can you be more specific? Are you going to do something through the ATF, or is it going to be an executive action?
BIDEN: Well, there is a debate as to whether or not there is authority under the executive action. I think we have the authority. And there is a concern that if, in fact, we go ahead and do it, what the response will be from the United States Congress in a way that may be able to override a veto. But I'm not prepared to give you more detail at this moment except to say you are right about the total non-utility from a sporting perspective of armor-piercing bullets. And we are focusing on it.
PELLEY: Is it worth a try even if you face a veto?
BIDEN: I've learned that I have a V in from of my name, vice president, but speaking for myself, I think it is worth a try.
PELLEY: Vice President Biden, we're grateful for your time. Thank you very much.
BIDEN: Thanks an awful lot.
