President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a new executive order aimed at reducing gun violence in the United States. The order, signed during a White House event on Thursday, September 26th, focuses on emerging gun technologies, particularly addressing threats posed by 3D-printed guns and machine-gun conversion devices. The policy also calls for updated guidance on active shooter drills in schools, aiming to minimize the psychological harm on students.
Biden emphasized the importance of addressing gun violence in any conversation about crime in America. “To talk about reducing crime and violence in America, you need to talk about guns in America,” he said. The president pointed to the growing problem of machine-gun conversion devices, which allow semi-automatic handguns to be converted into fully automatic firearms. Biden referred to the impact of these devices as “devastating,” citing recent mass shootings that involved their use.
The new executive order also establishes an “emerging firearms threats task force,” which will work to regulate the use of conversion devices and prevent the proliferation of 3D-printed, unserialized guns. Randall Woodfin, mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, spoke at the event, recounting a recent mass shooting in his city where conversion devices were used. “Saving lives should not be a Democrat or Republican thing,” Woodfin said.
Vice President Harris also addressed the nation’s gun violence epidemic, reiterating her support for common-sense gun safety measures like universal background checks, safe storage laws, and red flag laws. Harris, herself a gun owner, emphasized that supporting the Second Amendment is not at odds with pushing for these reforms. “I believe the right to be safe is a civil right,” Harris said. “Our nation is experiencing an epidemic of gun violence.”
The order comes as Biden and Harris tout their administration’s efforts on gun safety, including 2022’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and $15 billion in law enforcement funding. The executive order also seeks to improve active shooter drills in schools, a measure the White House hopes will prepare students without causing unnecessary trauma.
Gun violence prevention advocates, including representatives from Everytown for Gun Safety and survivors of mass shootings, attended the event. The administration’s gun control efforts are expected to be a central issue in the upcoming presidential election.
