Biden Takes Action to Limit Gun Violence
President Joe Biden has taken significant steps to address the escalating threat posed by machine gun conversion devices and 3D-printed firearms. On Thursday, he signed an executive order that establishes the Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force, which has been tasked with delivering a report in three months to assess the danger presented by automatic weapons and 3D-printed guns. In addition, the task force will develop a comprehensive interagency plan to combat this pressing issue.
Expressing his commitment to improving the situation, Biden stated in a social media post, “It’s our job to do better.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has raised alarms over the rapid proliferation of machine gun conversion devices in recent years. The agency has witnessed a significant uptick in the number of these devices recovered, attributing this increase to the ease with which individuals can convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic ones through internet commerce and 3D printing technology. According to the White House, the ATF confiscated nearly 5,500 conversion devices between 2017 and 2021, marking a staggering 570% surge from the previous five-year period.
Machine guns have long been subject to restrictions in the United States, dating back to the National Firearms Act of 1934. Federal law unequivocally prohibits civilians from owning machine guns manufactured after 1986 and categorizes conversion devices as machine guns, even if they are not physically attached to a weapon.
3D printing has presented law enforcement with a similar challenge, as the widespread availability of this technology has enabled individuals to produce unserialized firearms in violation of federal regulations. The emergence of these untraceable “ghost guns” has facilitated access to firearms for prohibited individuals while impeding law enforcement’s ability to track firearms using serial numbers.
President Biden’s executive order also allocates federal funding for various gun violence prevention initiatives. The Justice Department will allocate $135 million towards enabling states to implement “red flag” laws, which temporarily restrict individuals from purchasing or possessing firearms if they pose a threat to themselves or others. Additional funds will be dedicated to promoting safe firearm storage practices, enhancing school shooter drills, and supporting community violence prevention efforts.
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), a survivor of a mass shooting in 2011, underscored the significance of these measures in a statement, asserting, “Machine gun conversion devices and 3D-printed guns represent a major and growing threat to American communities. These new strategies and investments, along with enhanced support for community violence intervention programs and red flag laws, will undoubtedly save lives.”
While this executive order constitutes a modest victory for gun reform under the Biden administration, the president continues to face staunch opposition from Republicans in Congress and legal challenges. Despite his longstanding support for more sweeping measures such as universal background checks and the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, these proposals have struggled to gain traction.
Regulations enacted by the ATF during Biden’s tenure that would mandate background checks at gun shows and restrict the sale of pistol braces or forced-reset triggers, which enhance firing speed, are currently mired in legal uncertainty due to challenges in federal court.
