Giffords Calls on President Biden to Continue to Take Action on Gun Violence Ahead of Tomorrow’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow, President Joe Biden will deliver his first State of the Union Address to Congress. As gun deaths continue to rise throughout the country, Giffords reiterates our calls for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to take bold and urgent action to end this crisis.
Peter Ambler, Giffords Executive Director
“Our nation continues to grapple with a gun violence crisis unique among industrialized nations because too many of our leaders prioritize the interests of the gun industry over those of the American people. Innocent children are losing their lives every day. Families fall asleep to the sound of gunfire. Parents fear their kids won’t make it home from school. Americans are left to wonder if their family will be next.
President Biden ran on a historically strong gun safety platform and is deeply committed to ending this crisis. The administration must focus on gun safety legislation and policy such as universal background checks, continued investment in community violence intervention programs, and reform at ATF. This is a matter of safety for all American families.”
Giffords is committed to working with the Biden-Harris administration to end the gun violence epidemic. We have outlined several key federal policies that the administration should prioritize to stem gun violence in our country. These priorities include:
- Background Checks: We must close the gaping loophole in our background checks law that allows people who are prohibited from possessing firearms to obtain them via an unregulated sale. Passing universal background checks will ensure that everyone who wants to purchase a firearm will be properly vetted. President Biden should force a vote in the Senate on this crucial legislation.
- Community Violence Intervention: Consistently well-funded community violence intervention (CVI) programs have shown to be effective in reducing gun violence in high-risk neighborhoods. The administration should establish a CVI stakeholder working group that regularly brings together CVI leaders and stakeholders, including community and faith-based intermediary organizations, to share best practices and advise the White House on this issue.
- Overhauling ATF: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) is the primary federal agency charged with enforcing our nation’s gun laws and regulating the gun industry, yet it continues to be in lockstep with the industry it is tasked with regulating. We need leadership at the ATF to get the policies needed on gun violence. President Biden must name a new director immediately who will prioritize the interest of the American people over those of the gun industry.
Read our full memo on executive actions the Biden-Harris administration should take.
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Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.
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