President Biden will announce gun control measures on Thursday that a government official described as a first series of actions aimed at tackling all forms of gun violence.
The president will outline several initiatives to be accomplished through a mix of executive and legislative action, the official told reporters.
Biden will call on the Justice Department to issue proposed rules within 30 days to stop the proliferation of so-called “ghost weapons”. Ghost weapons refer to kits that allow the recipient to assemble the firearm using the included parts. These guns do not have commercial serial numbers and are difficult to trace.
The Justice Department is given 60 days to issue a separate rule about stabilizing braces, which can turn a gun into a more accurate weapon that fires like a rifle. The DOJ is also given 60 days to develop a model “red flag” law that would allow friends and family members to identify a person as a potential danger, temporarily denying the person access to a firearm.
OFFERS TO NOMINATE GUN CONTROL BACKER DAVID CHIPMAN TO HEAD ATF: WH OFFICIAL
The president will also highlight the steps his government is taking to invest in community violence interventions and call on the DOJ to release a report on firearms trafficking.
The government official said that while Biden will call on Congress to take action – including closing loopholes in the background check system – he will not wait.
“Gun violence takes lives and leaves a lasting legacy of trauma in communities in this country every day, even if it’s not on the nightly news,” the White House said in a statement.
The government official told reporters on Wednesday that Biden is concerned about all forms of gun violence, not just mass shootings but also domestic violence and forms of community violence disproportionately affecting black and brown communities.
Biden’s actions follow three recent mass shootings, and the government official suggested additional actions could take place in the coming weeks and months.
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Chipman, who is a gun owner himself, has said he stands by rules that save lives but not take firearms from law-abiding civilians.
The government official confirmed on Wednesday evening that Chipman had been selected to enforce gun laws while respecting the rights of the Second Amendment.
ATF is a law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice committed to protecting the public from criminal organizations and activities, including the illegal use and trafficking of firearms.