By Janet Ekstract
WASHINGTON – On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris in live televised speeches at the White House Rose Garden, announced new game-changing legislation on ghost guns and new gun control laws. There was also powerful testimony from a young woman who is a survivor of gun violence as well as Biden’s announcement of the new head of the Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). As Harris explained, “As we know all too well, our nation continues to be plagued by an epidemic of gun violence.” She said that gun violence has been one of her top priorities throughout her career. According to statistics released on Monday from the U.S: Department of Justice from 2016-2021, there was a ten-fold jump in the use of ghost guns in violent crime. The ATF reported 45,000 cases of ghost guns used in violent crimes in 2021, which is an exponential jump from 2016.
Both Biden and Harris reiterated how easy it is for anyone to order a kit to make a ghost gun within 30 minutes and that those most likely to use ghost guns are repeat offenders of violent crimes. But that among teens, it’s an especially worrying trend. As Biden explained: “These guns are weapons of choice for most criminals.” He said the reason is because ghost guns never had any serial numbers so they can’t be traced. The U.S. president revealed key changes that he said will be “updating old definitions” in existing gun laws. Major game-changers include requiring gun dealers to run background checks on ghost gun kits as well as requiring firearms dealers to apply serial numbers to ghost guns. Biden reiterated the aim is “to get guns used in crimes off our streets.”
Harris said the idea is to make using a ghost gun that much more difficult to deter its use. Another key plan Biden said is to “disrupt illegal gun networks” and hold the most violent offenders accountable. He made it clear that anyone who uses a ghost gun to commit a crime will be punished to the full extent of the law. Part of the new regulations include creating specific safety strategies according to U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco who also spoke. She. added that the Department of Justice will continue to apply “every single tool at our disposal to fulfill that obligation.” To that end, Biden commented: “I instructed the attorney general to write out a regulation to reign in ghost guns because I couldn’t get it passed in Congress.” He said that some people find his legislation “extreme.” But Biden asked, “Is it extreme to protect police officers? Is it extreme to protect our children? Is it extreme to….it isn’t extreme, its basic common sense.”
Biden reiterated that his administration will do “everything we can to deprive” criminals of ghost guns. Part of the new legislation is making it illegal for a business to manufacture a ghost gun kit without a serial number. He said that starting on April 11, if someone sells a ghost gun to a pawn shop that dealer must sell it with a serial number. Biden added that his administration is teaching investigators and prosecutors “best practices” about how to go after ghost guns – Biden commented, “If you commit a crime with a ghost gun, expect federal prosecution.”
The president further explained that he put together a “comprehensive strategy” to push Congress to act on what he referred to as “sensible legislation.” There will be four areas to prioritize Biden emphasized: going after rogue gun dealers, disrupting illegal gun trafficking while shutting down trafficking corridors, community policing and community violence interruption while funding police to give them tools to be “better protectors in our communities,” police getting to know neighbors very well to deter crime and funding programs for youth to prevent crime.
He said that “none of this absolves Congress of the responsibility to act” on gun legislation and said Congress needs to pass “universal background checks.” To move ahead with tougher gun legislation, Biden announced his new head of ATF, Steve Dettelbach who pledged to do “everything in our power to protect the people of this nation every single day.” Dettelbach added, “So many Americans still face fear and isolation because of an epidemic of gun violence. It will take an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to fight this and the ATF will be there.” Me,anwhile, Biden made it clear when he said, “I support the Second Amendment” but use the law “rationally.” He added, “We need to repeal the liability shield of gun manufacturers for false advertising.”
