Joe Biden introduces actions on firearms in Rose Garden

President Joe Biden and his Attorney General Merrick Garland announced restricted measures on Thursday to solve gun violence in the U.S. The White House described these measures as initial steps to curb mass shootings.

Biden announced two new regulations that will be pursued by the Justice Department. First, to curb the proliferation of so-called ghost guns, weapons without serial numbers, and in some cases, homemade guns. The second would restrain stabilizing braces, accessories that can be used to make pistols more like rifles.

Biden said he will also ask the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to make it easier for states to adopt “Red Flag” laws that flag at-risk individuals who own guns and also release an annual report on firearms trafficking in the United States.

Biden said while speaking in the Rose Garden to an audience filled with family members of victims of gun violence that these steps are taken to confront not just the gun crisis, but what is actually a public health crisis.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Garland were also present at the meet.

Harris said that people on both sides of the aisle want action. 

On Wednesday evening, a senior administration official previewed these steps. This approach comes after current high-profile mass shootings put increased pressure on Biden to act on gun violence.

The Justice Department is prepared to hand out the proposals within 30 days. These proposals will be open to comment through the regular federal rule-making process before they are finalized and come to effect.

The proposed move on ghost guns was praised by Gun safety groups. Anti-gun violence advocates in communities of color also applauded the president’s moves. 

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, of California, took on to Twitter to slam the administration’s actions.

McCarthy tweeted, “President Biden plans to announce his attempts to trample over our constitutional 2A rights by executive fiat. He is soft on crime but infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens. I won’t stand for it. And neither will House Republicans. Follow the Constitution!”

President Biden plans to announce his attempts to trample over our constitutional 2A rights by executive fiat. He is soft on crime, but infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens. I won’t stand for it. And neither will House Republicans. Follow the Constitution!

— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) April 8, 2021