Biden's New Executive Order Targets Gun Violence and School Safety

President Joe Biden will sign an executive order to address the rise in firearm threats and improve active shooter drills in schools. The announcement, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, aims to set stricter controls on machine gun conversions and 3D-printed firearms, while directing federal agencies to enhance school safety measures.

President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Thursday to tackle the increasing threats from firearms and enhance active shooter drills in schools. The White House announced this initiative, emphasizing the urgent deadlines set for further action.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will introduce the order at the White House, marking their first gun-related event since Harris was appointed to oversee the office on gun violence prevention a year ago. The event will feature gun violence survivors, activists, and long-standing allies of Biden, who has a lengthy track record in combating gun violence.

The order is part of a comprehensive effort by Biden and Harris, both gun owners, to reduce gun violence since their inauguration in 2021. In June, the U.S. surgeon general labeled gun violence a public health crisis, advocating for more research funding, better mental health services, and secure storage regulations. The new order establishes a federal task force to evaluate threats from machine gun conversion devices and 3D-printed firearms, with findings expected in 90 days. Additionally, federal agencies are instructed to develop guidelines within 110 days for schools to implement effective active shooter drills without causing trauma to students.

(With inputs from agencies.)