The vigil, which marked its 10th anniversary, began in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut, which killed 28 people and injured two others. Biden is the first president to attend the remembrance, according to WUSA reporter Casey Nolen.

“We’ve seen you turn pain into purpose,” the president said in his speech at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. “Together, we’ve made some important progress. The most significant gun law passed in 30 years, but still not enough.”

Biden went on to speak about “commonsense” policies that Democrats have been working to pass in Congress, such as banning assault rifles as former President Bill Clinton’s administration did in 1994.

“We did it with the help of the very people in here, led by [House] Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi … and many others,” Biden said. “And we did and guess what? It worked … And you know, we can do it again.”

The president ended his speech with a moment of silence to remember victims of gun violence and a plea to supporters to keep pushing for gun law reform.

“We ask God to give us the strength to finish the work left undone,” Biden said. “On behalf of the lives we’ve lost and all the lives we can save.”

Pelosi took the stage to discuss the Democratic-led House’s efforts, such as re-banning assault rifles, requiring background checks, outlawing untraceable ghost guns and banning the sale of high-capacity magazines.

“When we tell them we are sorry for their loss, we must act upon that,” Pelosi said about comforting gun violence survivors. “Now, I see a shirt that says, ‘Just do it.’ And that’s good guidance.”

In July, the Senate passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was largely spurred by the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. The bill increased funding for states to implement “red flag” laws, which allows courts to keep guns away from individuals considered to be dangerous. The bill also increased funding for mental health and school security, and enhanced background checks for gun buyers under age 21.

But calls for increased gun control measures reignite with each mass shooting, including after two in Virginia last month that killed nine people in total. Five were also killed by gunfire at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado, with 18 others injured.

One report prior to last month’s midterm elections found gun reform as a top priority among voters, with the issue generally favoring Democrats over Republicans in gaining Americans’ trust. An August poll from the Associated Press also found that nearly half of Republicans think gun laws should be stricter, while 71 percent of voters nationwide agree.

Other Democrats who attended the vigil Wednesday included Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Representative Jahana Hayes and Florida Representative-elect Maxwell Frost.

Newsweek has reached out to the National Rifle Association for comment.

Updated 12/7/22, 9:24 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and background.