Joe Biden calls the owners of Club Q after shooting in Colorado Springs
The call comes after five people killed in latest mass shooting
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Joe Biden on Thursday called the owners of the Colorado Springs gay nightclub where a shooter opened fire and killed five people last weekend.
The president called Nic Grzecka and Matthew Haynes, who own Club Q in Colorado Springs.
“They reiterated their support for the community as well as their commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence,” according to a statement “They also thanked Nic and Matthew for the incredible contributions they have made and will continue to make to Colorado Springs.”
Police arrested Anderson Lee Aldrich, who now faces five murder charges and hate crime charges. News reports found that the accused shooter’s grandmother said they had told her that they were “going to be the next mass killer and has been collecting ammunition, firearms, bullet-proof body armour and storing it in the basement of the residence”.
Biden rails against ‘sick’ semi-automatic weapons and unenforced red flag laws on Thanksgiving in Nantucket
Colorado Springs shooting – live: Video shows Anderson Lee Aldrich and mother in airport clash as bond denied
Walmart shooting death toll likely to rise as worker, 23, expected to be taken off life support
A video from local Fox affiliate Fox 31 reportedly showed Aldrich with their mother during a confrontation at an airport on 31 July where the pair apparently hurled racist slurs at a Hispanic family.
Earlier in the day, Mr Biden had decried the fact that the sheriff’s office in El Paso County did not enforce Colorado’s red flag law. The law allows for police or citizens to file an extreme risk protection order to prevent a person from obtaining a firearm if they pose a threat to themselves or another person.
“The idea that we're not enforcing red flag laws … is ridiculous,” he told reporters.
Mr Biden also called for a ban on assault weapons, criticising the proliferation of semiautomatic firearms.
“The idea we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick,” he said. “Just sick. It has no, no social redeeming value. Zero. None. Not a single solitary rationale for it except profit for the gun manufacturers.