The Biden-Harris Administration has unveiled a set of executive measures aimed at improving firearm safety.
Emphasizing Firearm Storage
The measures, which emphasize secure firearm storage to prevent children from gaining access, are designed to combat critical levels of gun violence across the United States.
Alarmingly High Shooting Rates
The move is undoubtedly a response to the alarmingly high rates of school shootings and youth suicides linked to guns being left unsecured in homes. There were 346 U.S. school shootings in 2023 — the highest total on record since at least 1966.
Checks, Accountability, and Support
The Executive Order includes measures aimed at enhancing background checks, promoting accountability in the firearms industry, and offering support to communities affected by gun violence.
A Clear Connection
An estimated 4.6 million children in the United States live in homes where at least one firearm is kept loaded and unlocked. There’s a clear connection between unsecured guns, school shootings, and youth suicide — and Biden’s measures seek to address this.
The Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education will contribute, and school principals will receive a letter highlighting the importance of safe storage, along with a communications template to encourage parents to adopt said safe storage practices.
Over 1,000 Children
A considerable number of accidental shootings involving children stem from firearms that are not properly secured, and over 1,000 children lost their lives due to unintentional gun injuries between 2003 and 2021.
A Comprehensive Guide
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to publish a guide so comprehensive that it’s set to be the most thorough resource on secure firearm storage ever offered by the federal government. It will provide insights into storage tools and recommended methods.
Guns From Students’ Homes
The guidance is undoubtedly needed; over 70% of school shootings are carried out with guns from students’ homes.
A Crucial Step
Around 80% of firearm-related suicides among children involve guns owned by family members, and Biden’s measures recognize safe storage as a crucial step in lowering these statistics.
A Million Stolen Guns
Between 2017 and 2021, more than a million guns were reported stolen. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives notes a pattern of guns being taken from unattended cars, indicating that safe storage would be incredibly beneficial.
Enhanced Background Checks
The Executive Order also contains provisions to enhance background checks for gun purchases. Moreover, it reinforces “red flag” laws, and it prompts the Federal Trade Commission to examine how gun manufacturers advertise firearms to minors.
Support for Survivors
Biden will direct his Cabinet to devise plans for federal help with the goal of meeting both the immediate and enduring needs of survivors, families of victims, first responders, and the communities affected.
Making Neighborhoods Safer
The measures demonstrate a comprehensive strategy, and it’s a clear demonstration of the Biden administration’s dedication to preserving lives, making neighborhoods safer, and reducing gun-related tragedies.
20th in the World
Measures to reduce gun violence are long overdue. In 2019, the United States ranked 32nd highest in the world for firearm deaths, with 3.96 deaths per 100,000 people. From 2014 to 2020, that number rose.
An Even Worse Statistic
The aforementioned statistic isn’t even the most concerning; the U.S. had the second-highest rate of gun-assisted suicide in 2019. The only country to surpass this was Greenland.
U.S. vs. U.K. vs. Canada
While the United States’ 2019 gun death statistic was 3.96 per 100,000 people, Canada’s was 0.47. Moreover, the United Kingdom’s was 0.04 — making America’s number almost 100 times higher.
Knife Crime in the U.S.
Interestingly, the U.S. also has higher knife crime rates than both of the aforementioned countries. According to World Population Review, the United States has a stabbing homicide rate of 0.60 per 100,000 people, while the United Kingdom’s rate sits at 0.08 and Canada’s sits at 0.49.
The Root Cause
America’s knife crime rate implies that the root of the country’s gun violence is something other than widespread firearm ownership. With any luck, Biden’s measures will assist in reducing the problem and making the country a safer place for everyone.
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