“I don't need to wait another minute to take common-sense steps or save the lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act. We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again,” US President Joe Biden called on lawmakers to impose a ban on assault weapons in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Boulder.

Emphasizing what he got done when he was a senator, Biden said, “We can close the loopholes on our background check system, including the Charleston loophole. That's one of the best tools we have right now to prevent gun violence.”

“The Senate should immediately pass,” Biden added. “Let me say it again, the United States Senate... should immediately pass the two House-passed bills to close loopholes in the background check system.”

Ten people, including a police officer who was the first to respond at the scene, were killed in shootings at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday.

A suspect has been taken into custody. Police have not been able to identify the motive of the shooting.

“You can ask me to speculate [on] what happened, why it happened, and I am not going to do that now because we do not have all the information,” Biden refused to assume anything about speculating motive of the incident.

Biden also directed that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.