As a senator, Biden was the author of the assault-weapons ban, which was in place for a decade until 2004. But in today's political climate, the president has few realistic avenues to pursue gun control without congressional action.

Although there are nascent signs of an agreement on potential legislation that would offer state incentives to pass red-flag laws, update school-safety protocols, and changes to background checks, the prospect of bipartisan action on guns typically fades in the weeks after mass shootings.

"This time, it's time for the Senate to do something," Biden said, adding that 10 Republican senators need to be on board with any effort.

"The fact that a majority of Senate Republicans don't want any of these proposals even to be debated, or come up for a vote, I find unconscionable. We can't fail the American people again."

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