US President Joe Biden is set to announce an executive order today that reinforces background checks for gun buyers in what the White House is promoting as the most comprehensive policy the president can enact without Congress. The order will also strengthen federal support for red flag laws intended to stop gun sales to people deemed dangerous that have been passed by 19 states and the District of Columbia. It follows previous executive action the Biden administration has taken with the intent to reduce gun violence.
Biden plans to discuss the order, the White House said, when he will meet with gun violence victims in Monterey Park, California, where a shooter opened fire in a dance hall on Jan. 21, killing 11 people and injuring nine others.
In a country with more than 40,000 gun deaths per year, Biden is betting that voters will embrace more proactive gun control. Republican hopefuls who might seek their party’s nomination to challenge the Democrat Biden in 2024 are certain to favor more expansive gun rights, backed by influential groups such as the National Rifle Association.
The Biden administration is pointing to public opinion polls that show a majority of Americans support background checks.
Here are some of the highlights of Joe Biden’s new Executive Order to reduce gun violence:
Increase the number of background checks by ensuring that all background checks required by law are conducted before firearm purchases, moving the US as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation.
Improve public awareness and increase appropriate use of extreme risk protection (“red flag”) orders and safe storage of firearms. Many states have enacted red flag laws, allowing trusted community members to petition a court to determine whether an individual is dangerous, and then to temporarily remove an individual’s access to firearms.Address the loss or theft of firearms during shipping.
Provide the public and policymakers with more information regarding federally licensed firearms dealers who are violating the law. The President is directing the Attorney General to publicly release, to the fullest extent permissible by law, ATF or Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives records from the inspection of firearms dealers cited for violation of federal firearm laws.
Use the Department of Defense’s acquisition of firearms to further firearm and public safety practices