Borderland gun experts weigh in on Biden’s call for stricter gun laws

EL PASO, Texas -- Last night President Biden called on Congress to pass stricter gun laws. The stricter laws include an assault weapons ban and raising the age limit for firearm purchases.

"If we can't ban assault weapons then we should raise the age to purchase them from 18 to 21," President Biden said.

A ban on high-capacity magazines was also mentioned along with background checks, red flag laws, and a repeal of immunity for gun manufacturers if their weapons are used to perform violent acts.

Two local firearm experts say since President Bidens address to Congress. The interest in License to Carry courses and firearm purchases has gone up.

While they don't fully agree with the President's proposals they believe something needs to be done.

"I think we should make a few changes," said Tom Fenton who teaches Texas License to Carry course under El Paso carry.com.  While he is not in agreement with all gun proposals - he agrees that something has to be done.

"I'm absolutely in agreement that we should raise the minimum age to buy any kind of firearm to 21. I mean come on, an 18 year old kid can buy an assault riffle, but he cant buy a drink in Texas I mean wheres the sense in that?" said Fenton.

"Age is not really the problem," said Luis owner and instructor of Texas Gun Freedom Company. He argues there's more to the problem than guns.

'The problem is what's in the family you know mental health that's my big thing mental health education is a big thing gun education mental health education family education," said Luis.

Both agree an assault rifle ban isn't the answer.

"I am absolutely against the president's proposal to ban assault riffles," said Fenton. "There's a lot of legitimate uses for those firearms, personal protection, law enforcement, and so on. So are you gonna shut down the industry because it's being abused? I think its better to target the abuser."

"They want to blame a tool, they want to blame the guns," said Luis "The gun problem we have is a factor, but its not THE factor."

However, - Fenton says he supports red flag laws.

"We ought to strengthen red flag laws so that if someone is shown to have a tendency toward some type of violent act makes threats or whatever i think a red flag outta go up and then that person needs to be checked and investigated," said Fenton.

Luis says he can't support red flag laws until they are defined further by the law. 

"We comply with all the Federal State local laws we go through background checks. They will notify me if one of the guns we've sold has been in a crime, which at this point its been zero," said Luis.

Both experts stress gun education as a big factor and believe anyone in possession of a firearm should be trained properly.