The economy, immigration and China’s president lead our roundup of Biden’s claims.
FactChecking Biden’s Address to Congress
Issues: assault weapons ban
FactChecking Biden’s Claim that Assault Weapons Ban Worked
President Joe Biden claims the 10-year assault weapons ban that he helped shepherd through the Senate as part of the 1994 crime bill “brought down these mass killings.” But the raw numbers, when adjusted for population and other factors, aren’t so clear on that.
Misinformation Outlasts Virginia Gun Bill
A Virginia bill that would have banned the sale of “assault firearms” has been tabled for a year, but misinformation about it continues to circulate online — including a false claim that the state will confiscate guns.
O’Rourke Not Alone in Support of Mandatory Buyback
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke has faced backlash from Republicans, and some Democrats, for his debate-night advocacy of a mandatory buyback program for so-called assault weapons. But Sen. Chuck Schumer went too far when he said, “I don’t know of any other Democrat who agrees with Beto O’Rourke.”
Baseless Claim of Odessa Shooter’s ‘Beto Sticker’
Viral posts on social media make the baseless claim that the shooter in Odessa, Texas, had a sticker on his car for Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke. The Texas Department of Public Safety said there was no sticker on the car he was driving during the attack.
The Gun Debate
Facts on background checks, concealed-carry laws, U.S. gun homicide rate, stolen guns
FactChecking the 11th GOP Debate
Claims by and about Donald Trump dominate our report.
NRA’s Ominous But Misleading Appeal
A series of NRA ads employ images of an intruder breaking into the home of a mother home alone with her baby to make the case that Democratic candidates have “voted to take away your gun rights.” But the implication of the jarring imagery goes far beyond the facts.
Twisting Feinstein’s Words on Military Vets
Did Sen. Dianne Feinstein say all military veterans are mentally ill and should not be allowed to own guns?
Cherry-Picking Assault Weapons Ban Studies
On Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Managing Editor Lori Robertson talks about how both sides of the gun-control debate are selectively quoting from studies on the effectiveness of the 1994 assault weapons ban. The head of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, claimed the studies found the ban “had no impact on lowering crime,” while Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein said the ban did reduce crime. Both are wrong. The studies could not conclude that the ban was responsible for a national drop in gun violence,