President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to deliver remarks at the White House today, focusing on the administration's initiatives to combat gun violence. The event will feature the unveiling of a new executive order aimed at enhancing active shooter drills in schools and addressing emerging firearm technologies.
This joint appearance comes on the one-year anniversary of the establishment of the White House office of gun violence prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris. The Biden administration has been emphasizing a recent decline in violent crime, as indicated by new FBI data.
Gun control has become a contentious issue, with President Biden's opponent accusing Harris of advocating for gun confiscation. In response, Harris clarified her stance as a gun owner and emphasized that there are no plans to take away firearms.
The executive order to be signed by President Biden will task a newly-formed firearms threats group with evaluating the risks associated with 'machine-gun conversion devices' and un-serialized printed firearms. These devices have raised concerns due to their potential to convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons and the ability to create firearms from online blueprints.
The order also directs key officials, including Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, to collaborate with other departments to develop guidelines for active shooter drills in schools. The goal is to maximize the drills' effectiveness while minimizing any unintended consequences.
