Biden Announces Executive Actions on Gun Control, Nominates New Head of ATF
On April 8, 2021, President Joe Biden announced six executive actions in an effort to curb gun violence. President Biden highlighted the urgency of this issue in a speech saying, “Today we're taking steps to confront not just the gun crisis but what is actually a public health crisis."
One executive action introduced by President Biden would tighten regulations on homemade guns and provide more resources for gun violence prevention. He mentioned the prevalence of “ghost guns,” which are homemade weapons assembled using multiple parts and are untraceable because they do not have serial numbers, and vowed to close loopholes that prevent regulation of ghost guns via a proposed rule to be issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
A second proposed rule would tighten regulations on pistol-stabilizing braces like the one used in the Boulder, CO grocery store shooting that resulted in the death of ten people. Pistols with stabilizing braces will be considered short-barrel rifles and will require a federal license to own, a more thorough background check, and a $200 fee.
Another rule to be introduced by Attorney General Merrick Garland would make it easier for states to adopt “red flag” laws, which allow individuals to report others to the police if they are a danger to themselves or others. The police can then confiscate the individual’s weapons.
Furthermore, Attorney General Garland said the Department of Justice will create a new comprehensive report on firearms trafficking to improve and analyze gun trends and data collection tactics. Additionally, the Biden administration plans to increase investment in community violence intervention programs to reduce violence in urban communities.
Several gun control advocates have spoken out in support of these executive actions. In an April 8, 2021 statement, John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety said, "Each of these executive actions will start to address the epidemic of gun violence that has raged throughout the pandemic, and begin to make good on President Biden's promise to be the strongest gun safety president in history.”
President Biden said during his remarks, “They’ve offered plenty of thoughts and prayers, members of Congress, but they have passed not a single new federal law to reduce gun violence. Enough prayers, time for some action."
President Biden also announced the nomination of David Chipman, a former special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), to head the agency. Only one ATF director has been confirmed by the Senate in the past fifteen years and, if confirmed, Chipman would be the first permanent ATF director in six years.