President Bidenās new executive order on gun control
Image: Getty
President Biden signed an executive order yesterday that aims to expand the number of US gun buyers required to undergo background checks, as part of an effort to reduce instances of mass shootings and gun violence in America.
āļø First things first: This executive order doesnāt change any US government laws. Instead, it directs federal agencies to work within existing procedures that were previously approved by Congress.
Currently, federal background checks arenāt required for any private gun sales between individuals ā only for sales by people and organizations considered to be firearm dealers. Which is the general area where the order is focused.
Bidenās executive order directs the DOJ to clarify what it means to be āengaged in the businessā of selling guns, a move thatās expected to result in more individual sellers being classified as firearms dealers ā who then have to run background checks.
- In a fact sheet, the White House said the new measure will bring the US āas close to universal background checks as possibleā without additional legislation from Congress.
š Zoom out: Overall, data shows that mass shootings and instances of gun violence in America are currently headed the same direction as a driver seeing headlights on a one-way road: the wrong way.
- The US experienced 690 mass shootings last year, defined as four or more victims injured or killed, per the Gun Violence Archive. That represents a 153% increase since 2014, the first year the org began collecting data.
- The latest CDC data shows gun-related homicides in America surpassed 19,000 for the first time in 2020, marking a 75% increase from the previous decade.
š Flash poll: How do you feel about President Bidenās new executive order that aims to expand the number of US buyers subjected to background checks?
See a 360Ā° view of what media pundits are saying ā
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that lawmakers need to understand that Americaās ongoing problem with gun violence canāt be solved by a couple of changes, and need to stop pretending that the issue is fixed after just one or two new laws.
- Others contend that the current levels of gun violence in America, combined with (mostly Republican) lawmakersā unwillingness to take action, will not be looked kindly upon by historians and future generations.
- āThe gun violence scourge canāt be scrubbed out with one or two changesā āWaPo Editorial Board
- āUnchecked gun violence reveals who we are as a nationā āSan Jose Mercury News Editorial Board
- āAmericaās Toxic Gun Cultureā āNY Times Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that thereās no point in lawmakers passing new gun control measures if prosecutors arenāt actually prosecuting the gun crimes that are on the books, as has been the case in some Democratic controlled areas.
- Others contend that while many lawmakers and others like to say the vast majority of Americans are in favor of common-sense gun control laws, polling shows there actually isnāt firm, sustained support for gun control.
- āNo point passing gun control if you don't prosecute gun crimes.ā āDavid Freddoso, Washington Examiner
- āThere Is No Firm, Sustained Support for Gun Controlā āJohn R. Lott, Jr. and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Newsweek
- āGun control is not the solution to gun violence in America. Here's whyā āLouie Haas, The Tennessean
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