President Biden Issues Executive Order on Gun Background Checks, Gun Violence
President Biden issued an executive order expanding gun background checks following a series of mass gun violence incidents earlier this year.
Speaking at the scene of the January 2023 mass shooting Monterey Park, California, where 11 people were killed and nine others injured, the President once again called on Congress to pass legislation, and said the move is “just common sense to check whether someone is a felon, a domestic abuser before they buy a gun."
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which became law in 2022, updated existing law to require those who sell firearms to be federally licensed and conduct background checks on buyers. The executive order issued this week directs Attorney General Merrick Garland to address a background check loophole created by the law by clarifying what it means to be “engaged in the business” of selling firearms.
By clarifying who counts as gun dealers, the order will require a greater number of background checks as required by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
“My executive order directs my Attorney General to take every lawful action possible — possible to move us as close as we can to universal background checks without new legislation,” stated President Biden.
Attorney General Garland is also directed to release, to the fullest extent possible, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) records on reported violations of firearms dealers.
The order also:
· Promotes quicker implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act–within 60 days, every agency involved will be required to send the president a progress report.
· Directs the President’s Cabinet to do all it can to promote the safe storage of weapons and to support communities suffering from gun violence, including developing response plans for the aftermath of mass shootings.
· Promotes the use of extreme-risk protection, which complements the 19 states that have “red flag” laws which allow a court-ordered removal of a person’s firearms if they’re considered dangerous.
· Asks the Department of Defense’s acquisition of firearms to further firearms and public safety practices. Pentagon spokesman Jeff Jurgenson tells Government Executive that “given the department’s significant role in the acquisition of firearms, we are fully committed to developing and implementing principles to further public safety practices.”
· Orders the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue a report detailing how gun manufacturers market to minors and to all Americans through military imagery.
Supporters of gun control applauded the move, including Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), who was one of the leaders of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
"President Biden’s executive order is bold, sweeping, and will save thousands of lives,” said Senator Murphy.
But opponents had a different view.
"Our elected leaders should be supporting those law-abiding Americans instead of finding more ways to hinder their right to defend themselves.” said Katie Pointer Baney, managing director of government affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association.