Biden and Harris Set to Launch New Executive Gun Control Measures
The proposed policies aim to tackle issues related to school shooting drills and the use of machine gun devices.
TroibNews 
On Thursday, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris revealed a set of new executive actions aimed at combating gun violence, a strategic move in an election year that seeks to enhance Biden’s legacy on this critical issue and gives Harris a new chance to showcase her leadership as vice president.
During a White House event, Biden is anticipated to sign an executive order intended to address the emotional toll of active shooter drills on children in schools, as well as confront the dangers posed by machine gun conversion devices—small apparatuses that can be produced with a 3D printer and enable a handgun to function as a fully automatic weapon. This initiative is coinciding with the first anniversary of Biden establishing the inaugural office of gun violence prevention, which was partly initiated to explore additional methods for addressing gun violence from the executive level without relying on Congress.
The joint appearance by Biden and Harris, among the few since the president delegated his reelection campaign efforts to her in July, will emphasize Harris's role in overseeing the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. It offers her the chance to assert her leadership on this issue in her official capacity as vice president, while also equipping her with new policies to promote on the campaign trail.
Moreover, this serves as a significant legacy project for Biden, marking what may be among his final actions on a policy area he has prioritized throughout his administration—culminating in measures such as the enactment of the first significant gun legislation in three decades and issuing more executive orders on gun violence than any previous administration.
The event encapsulates a week of efforts by the White House to spotlight the office's achievements. Earlier this week, they released a report commemorating the office's official anniversary, showcasing the administration's initiatives including enhancements to background checks under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which have prevented thousands of gun sales to individuals under 21 and those convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors. The White House also highlighted the recent decline in violent crime, which Biden is expected to address on Thursday, following an FBI report indicating an 11.6 percent decrease in homicides nationwide in 2023, alongside a 3 percent drop in overall violent crime after a pandemic-induced spike.
In addition, various federal departments and agencies plan to announce further executive actions, many tied to the bipartisan gun legislation passed by Congress in June 2022 in the aftermath of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting. These measures will include emphasis on safe firearm storage, implementing red-flag laws, funding community violence intervention initiatives, and enhancing the background-check system, among other efforts.
The executive order from the president will initiate a task force tasked with producing a report within 90 days that will evaluate the risks associated with unserialized, 3D-printed firearms and machine gun conversion devices. Although these devices are illegal under federal law, law enforcement officials have reported an increasing prevalence of such devices at crime scenes—police suspect that conversion devices were utilized in the recent shooting in Birmingham, Alabama.
Regarding school shooting drills, the president's directive will instruct the surgeon general along with the secretaries of the Education and Health and Human Services departments to create and disseminate guidance for schools on effectively conducting these drills while minimizing unnecessary emotional distress.
“Schools are currently using drills to prepare for their shooter's situation, but there is very limited research on how to design and deploy these drills to maximize their effectiveness and limit any collateral harms they might cause,” remarked Stefanie Feldman, director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, during a call with reporters prior to the announcement. “Many parents, students and educators have expressed concerns about the trauma caused by some approaches to these drills.”
Both Biden and Harris will address attendees on Thursday, who will include survivors, advocates, leaders from community violence intervention programs, law enforcement officials, mayors, and other state and local elected representatives. The guest list also features individuals who have collaborated with Biden and Harris over the decades, as the White House aims for the event to serve as a tribute to Biden’s three-decade commitment to addressing gun violence. Among those present will also be individuals from Harris’s previous tenure as a prosecutor in California.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
During a White House event, Biden is anticipated to sign an executive order intended to address the emotional toll of active shooter drills on children in schools, as well as confront the dangers posed by machine gun conversion devices—small apparatuses that can be produced with a 3D printer and enable a handgun to function as a fully automatic weapon. This initiative is coinciding with the first anniversary of Biden establishing the inaugural office of gun violence prevention, which was partly initiated to explore additional methods for addressing gun violence from the executive level without relying on Congress.
The joint appearance by Biden and Harris, among the few since the president delegated his reelection campaign efforts to her in July, will emphasize Harris's role in overseeing the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. It offers her the chance to assert her leadership on this issue in her official capacity as vice president, while also equipping her with new policies to promote on the campaign trail.
Moreover, this serves as a significant legacy project for Biden, marking what may be among his final actions on a policy area he has prioritized throughout his administration—culminating in measures such as the enactment of the first significant gun legislation in three decades and issuing more executive orders on gun violence than any previous administration.
The event encapsulates a week of efforts by the White House to spotlight the office's achievements. Earlier this week, they released a report commemorating the office's official anniversary, showcasing the administration's initiatives including enhancements to background checks under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which have prevented thousands of gun sales to individuals under 21 and those convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors. The White House also highlighted the recent decline in violent crime, which Biden is expected to address on Thursday, following an FBI report indicating an 11.6 percent decrease in homicides nationwide in 2023, alongside a 3 percent drop in overall violent crime after a pandemic-induced spike.
In addition, various federal departments and agencies plan to announce further executive actions, many tied to the bipartisan gun legislation passed by Congress in June 2022 in the aftermath of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting. These measures will include emphasis on safe firearm storage, implementing red-flag laws, funding community violence intervention initiatives, and enhancing the background-check system, among other efforts.
The executive order from the president will initiate a task force tasked with producing a report within 90 days that will evaluate the risks associated with unserialized, 3D-printed firearms and machine gun conversion devices. Although these devices are illegal under federal law, law enforcement officials have reported an increasing prevalence of such devices at crime scenes—police suspect that conversion devices were utilized in the recent shooting in Birmingham, Alabama.
Regarding school shooting drills, the president's directive will instruct the surgeon general along with the secretaries of the Education and Health and Human Services departments to create and disseminate guidance for schools on effectively conducting these drills while minimizing unnecessary emotional distress.
“Schools are currently using drills to prepare for their shooter's situation, but there is very limited research on how to design and deploy these drills to maximize their effectiveness and limit any collateral harms they might cause,” remarked Stefanie Feldman, director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, during a call with reporters prior to the announcement. “Many parents, students and educators have expressed concerns about the trauma caused by some approaches to these drills.”
Both Biden and Harris will address attendees on Thursday, who will include survivors, advocates, leaders from community violence intervention programs, law enforcement officials, mayors, and other state and local elected representatives. The guest list also features individuals who have collaborated with Biden and Harris over the decades, as the White House aims for the event to serve as a tribute to Biden’s three-decade commitment to addressing gun violence. Among those present will also be individuals from Harris’s previous tenure as a prosecutor in California.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
