Press Release
Posted:
Washington – Today, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement in support of President Biden’s latest executive order to address gun violence:
“Today, the Biden-Harris Administration marked another historic step in combating the gun violence epidemic gripping our country,” said Thompson. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, last year our country experienced the single largest homicide rate drop in recent history. Today’s actions build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s strong record on community safety by addressing the emerging threats of machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms; improving school-based active shooter drills; and directing federal agencies to take additional steps to reduce gun violence.
“On behalf of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, we thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their steadfast dedication to ending the gun violence epidemic that has claimed far too many lives.”
Background
Today, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Mike Thompson and Task Force members Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-07), Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08) joined President Biden at the White House as he signed an Executive Order to accelerate progress on two key priorities: combating emerging firearms threats and improving school-based active shooter drills.
Combating Emerging Firearm Threats: President Biden today established an Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force consisting of leadership from key federal departments and agencies. President Biden is directing the Task Force to issue a report within 90 days that includes:
- An assessment of the threat posed by machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms;
- An assessment of federal agencies’ operational and legal capacities to detect, intercept, and seize machine gun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms; and
- An interagency plan for combatting these emerging threats.
The report will include any additional authorities or funding the federal agencies need from Congress in order to complete this work.
Improving School-Based Active Shooter Drills: In addition, President Biden is directing the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Surgeon General, to develop and publish, within 110 days, information for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education regarding school-based active shooter drills.
The information will include a summary of:
- Existing research on active shooter drills and resources for school districts and institutions of higher education on how to create, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed active shooter drills;
- How to conduct effective and age- and developmentally-appropriate drills;
- How best to communicate with students, families, and educators about these drills;
- How to prevent students and educators from experiencing trauma or psychological distress associated with these drills; and
- How best to serve people with disabilities and those with language-related needs, including by ensuring compliance with federal civil rights laws, when designing and implementing school-based active shooter drills.
Today’s actions by the Biden-Harris Administration come after the one-year anniversary of the Administration’s historic establishment of the White House’s first-ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
In addition to the President’s Executive Order, federal departments and agencies are also taking action on gun violence to encourage safe storage, improve background checks, and implement Red Flag laws.