Then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, participates in a gun safety forum hosted by gun control activist group Giffords, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct. 2, 2019.
Having mastered the House, Senate and White House, Biden Administration officials conveyed their confidence in enacting gun control legislation through legislative and executive action during meetings with gun control advocates. In the past, these legislative and executive actions have never received a vote.
On Wednesday (Feb. 10), Susan Rice, domestic policy adviser, and Cedric Richmond, White House director of public engagement and senior adviser, held a virtual meeting with leaders of gun control groups.
Participating groups included the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Mayors Against Illegal Guns of America “(Everytown for Gun Safety), Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and “Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and other organizations.
Rice and Richmond told attendees that the president and vice president are prepared to take action to reduce gun violence and enact “common sense” gun laws.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday that the Biden administration is moving forward with, and will achieve, an “ambitious plan” to strengthen gun control in the near future.
“During the campaign, President Biden laid out an ambitious plan to make our society safer. That’s why, yesterday, senior members of his team held a virtual discussion with leaders of gun violence prevention organizations to discuss our shared goals.” Psaki said.
“We look forward to working with gun violence survivors and advocates and sharing more about our efforts to make communities safer in the coming weeks to months.” She added.
Key elements of Biden’s gun control agenda include a ban on the manufacture and sale of “assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines. Regulating existing assault weapons under the National Firearms Act, buying back these weapons and high-capacity magazines from the people, requiring background checks on all gun sales, ending online sales of guns and ammunition, and providing more funding to enforce these laws.
Gun control groups that attended Wednesday’s meeting were optimistic about enacting gun control laws after they were blocked by the majority party in the Senate.
“This meeting provided more evidence that the Biden administration will work to be the strongest we’ve ever seen on the issue of gun safety.” John Feinblatt, president of Mayors Against Illegal Guns (USA), said in a joint press release.
Among the topics discussed at Wednesday’s meeting were steps that can be taken to close loopholes in background checks, stop the sale of unregulated and untraceable “ghost” guns, and expand violence intervention programs.
“Shannon Watts, founder of Mothers Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she believes the public will see legislative and executive action on gun control in the near future.
“In 2013, when gun safety stalled in the Senate, President Biden stood beside former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Calif.) and vowed to fight for the gun lobby, the Time for change was coming. Today, that moment has arrived.” said Peter Ambler, executive director of the Griffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Griffords was founded by former Congresswoman Giffords, who was shot in the head by a gunman at a “Congress on Your Corner” constituent event in Tucson in 2011, which killed six people and injured 12 others.
Former Rep. Giffords. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)
In addition, Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign for Gun Violence Prevention, praised the Biden administration for its willingness to take “decisive action” on gun violence.
“They know this is a public health threat, and there is not a moment to waste. This administration is ready to take a whole-of-government approach to keeping Americans safe, and Brady looks forward to working with them to make that happen.” Brown said in a draft statement Thursday.
Brady’s organization is named for Jim Brady, President Reagan’s former press secretary, who was shot in the head during the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan, leaving him with a permanent disability.
Meanwhile, the Right to Bear Arms Initiative is encouraging members to ask their state and federal legislators to advocate for gun ownership by protecting the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Members of Colorado’s Rally for Your Rights are preparing to confront legislators to protect the right to bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
The National Rifle Association (NRA), has urged members to “make their voices heard against any infringement of their constitutional rights.
The 117th Congress has referred six gun control measures to the House Judiciary Committee. These include: Rep. Bobby Rush’s (R-Iowa) H.R. 30, which would punish and discourage gun trafficking; and Rep. Al Green’s (R-Iowa) H.R. 167, which would prohibit non-federally licensed gun dealers from transferring firearms at gun shows.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-CA) has introduced four gun control bills, including H.R. 127, which would require licensing and registration for possession of firearms and ammunition, and prohibit possession of certain ammunition.
Gun rights groups have dubbed H.R. 127 “The Gun Apocalypse” because it would require multiple Family members to undergo expensive psychological evaluations before purchasing a gun.
“Biden wants to ban our semi-automatic rifles and tax our guns, magazines and so on. He knows the only thing standing in his way of eliminating the Second Amendment is the NRA. gun owners must remain vigilant and involved in the election and legislative process.” The National Rifle Association (NRA) told members.
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