Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was outraged in September when Texas authorized legal gun owners to bring their firearms to church in order to defend themselves.
Biden, campaigning at a local labor council picnic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told reporters that it was “irrational” to allow legally owned guns into churches.
“It is irrational what they are doing. On the very day you see a mass shooting, I guess the number is now — I’ve been on a plane the last two and a half hours — up to five killed, and we are talking about loosening access to having guns, being able to take them in places of worship, store them in schools, I mean it is absolutely irrational. It is totally irrational.” Biden said. (RELATED: Liberals Make Fun Of Prayer Following Texas Shooting)
![OTTUMWA, IOWA - DECEMBER 21: Democratic presidential candidate former vice president Joe Biden speaks to guests during a campaign stop at the Hotel Ottumwa on December 21, 2019 in Ottumwa, Iowa. The 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses will take place on February 3, 2020, making it the first nominating contest for the Democratic Party in choosing their presidential candidate to face Donald Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)](https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GettyImages-1195262737-e1577501348217.jpg)
Democratic presidential candidate former vice president Joe Biden speaks to guests during a campaign stop at the Hotel Ottumwa on December 21, 2019 in Ottumwa, Iowa. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
After a church shooting on Sunday at the Texas West Freeway Church of Christ, Pastor Britt Farmer said he was grateful law-abiding gun owners are allowed to defend themselves and others in Texas churches.
Farmer added, “We lost two great men today, but it could have been a lot worse. I’m thankful our government has allowed us the opportunity to protect ourselves.”
Two people died Sunday when a gunman opened fire on the congregation in White Settlement, Texas. (RELATED: Five Dead, More Than 20 Wounded In Texas Shooting: Police)
The deaths were a far cry from the 26 who died in a Sutherland Springs, Texas church in 2017.
Biden also commented on the previous Texas church shooting, registering his criticism that the man who shot the assailant was packing a gun in church.
After the Sutherland Springs Church shooting in Texas, Biden said that the man who shot the attacker should not have been armed
Why does Biden want Texas churchgoers to be unarmed?https://t.co/fv1mYG8rm8
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) December 30, 2019
In June the former vice president released an “education plan” that advocated banning assault rifles and pledged to “defeat the NRA.”