The Independent View: President Biden to Sign Executive Actions Reducing Gun Violence

The White House New Executive Actions aimed at further Reducing Gun Violence, just as the One-year mark since the Formation of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) approaches.

Senior Administration Officials have pointed to the Creation of the First-of-its-kind Office, led by Vice President Kamala Harris (D), as a Landmark moment for President Biden (D), for whom the Issue of Gun Violence has been a Decades-long focus.

“We know that people are still dying every day in this country due to gun violence,” Stefanie Feldman, Director of OGVP, said in an Iinterview Friday. “Sometimes it makes national headlines. Sometimes it doesn't. President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to continuing their long legacy of leadership on this work.”

Feldman said the New Executive Actions will be announced “in the weeks ahead”, noting only that some pertain to the continued Implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, while others are “wholly new.” “Biden and Harris really asked us to address all angles of this issue, to address not only mass shootings but suicide by firearm, accidental shootings [and] community violence,” Feldman noted.

This week the White House also Released a New Report showcasing the Work of the OGVP in its first year, Organized by the Four Key Responsibilities of the Office, including Implementing the Safer Communities Act, Coordinating Support for Gun Violence Survivors, Identifying possible Executive Actions to be taken and Expanding Partner Coalitions with States and Localities throughout the Country.

Passed in 2022 on a Bipartisan basis, the Safer Communities Act was the First Gun Control Law approved by Congress in nearly Three Decades and included additional Funding for Mental Health and Red Flag programs, expanded Background Checks for Gun Sales, and cracked down on Illegal Trafficking efforts.

In 2024, the Gun Background Check system helped Block more than 4,600 Gun Ssales to People Convicted of Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence, according to the Report. To date, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has Charged more than 500 Defendants with Violating Provisions under the Law, and the Expanded Background Check

Provision has kept Guns out of the Hands of nearly 900 Young Ppeople who shouldn’t have them, Federal Officials said.

On the Implementation Front, Feldman Argued that, though the Entirety of the Legislation is already in effect, “there's a big difference between implementing something and really squeezing out all the possible benefits that you can.”

She pointed to some State Laws that Protect Individual Privacy as Obstacles preventing Law Eenforcement Officials from adequately responding to Background Checks, and said Her Office was currently working with State Legislators to push for Changes that would lift such Restrictions.

The Office has also worked to Coordinate with State and Local Partners, including suggesting Legislative Changes at the State Level. At least 17 States have Passed New Gun-related Legislation over the past year and Three: -- Maryland, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania, formed their own Offices.

Data from the Gun Violence Archive indicates that the Number of Mass Shootings this year has Decreased by 20% compared to the same period last year, the White House Report noted, and is on track to be at the Lowest level since 2019. Violent crime overall was down significantly as well, something the White House has touted as historic. “After the prior administration saw a historic increase in homicides, this administration has seen a historic decrease in homicides, and that has only accelerated this year,” Feldman said.

With about Four months left in Office, Biden Administration Officials are working to take advantage of the remaining time, while preparing for the Next Administration. “What any president does with the structure of the White House or the Office is up to them, but what we're focused on is what we can do in the next four months,” Feldman said. “President Biden, Vice President Harris, have the next four months to do all they can to save lives, and that's exactly what they've asked the office to carry out.”