September 30, 2024

White House Launches Task Force to Target 3D-Printed Guns and More

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a new executive order aimed at reducing gun violence and saving lives, according to a statement from the White House. The order establishes the Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force and directs federal agencies to improve school active shooter drills.

The task force will focus on curbing the growing use of machine gun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms, which have become increasingly accessible. According to the White House, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recovered 5,454 machine gun conversion devices between 2017 and 2021, marking a 570% increase over the previous five years. The task force has been tasked with assessing these emerging threats and will issue a report within 90 days.

In addition to evaluating law enforcement's ability to detect, seize, and combat the spread of these firearms, the task force will create an interagency plan to tackle the issue. This includes assessing the legal and operational capacity of federal agencies to address this rising danger.

The executive order also focuses on improving active shooter drills in schools, aiming to make them more effective while minimizing potential trauma to students. Despite the widespread use of such drills, there is limited research on how to conduct them in a way that is both useful and not harmful. The White House noted that many parents and educators have raised concerns about the emotional impact of certain drill practices.

To address this, the order directs the Secretaries of Education and Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Surgeon General, to develop guidelines for K-12 schools and higher education institutions on how to conduct active shooter drills. These guidelines will be published within 110 days.

Other gun safety actions will also be taken by federal agencies, including promoting safe gun storage and enhancing "red flag" laws, which allow authorities to remove firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others.

Additionally, the Department of Justice will allocate $85 million to 30 agencies and organizations through the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative. These funds will support hospital-based violence intervention programs, street outreach, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Overall, the administration plans to invest $400 million in these community intervention efforts.

The Biden administration is also tightening the background check system for gun buyers under 21 years old. However, the White House highlighted challenges with state privacy laws that limit the ability to fully enforce enhanced background checks, calling for improved collaboration among federal and state agencies.

By October 30, the Justice Department will release updated guidelines on best practices for federal law enforcement when handling seized firearms, especially in collaboration with local law enforcement. The administration pointed out that some firearms used in crimes are only partially destroyed when turned over to third parties for disposal.

In addition to these measures, the Biden administration renewed its call for Congress to pass "commonsense gun safety legislation." This includes banning assault weapons and bump stocks, implementing universal background checks, and repealing the immunity that protects gun manufacturers from liability. Biden is also advocating for federal safe storage and red flag programs to remove guns from individuals deemed dangerous.