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Governor Kathy Hochul, Gun Violence Prevention, New York State politics, News & Photo Features, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor Hochul Announces New Gun Safety Actions to Protect New Yorkers from Federal Firearm Regulation Rollbacks

Trump Administration’s Proposed Rollbacks Open Door for Dangerous Individuals To Obtain Firearms and Make it Harder to Hold Bad Actors in Firearms Industry Accountable

Governor Takes Immediate Action to Preserve Public Safety by Prioritizing State Police Inspections of Firearms Dealers Linked to Crime and Expanding Scope of Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns

Governor Will Explore Legislative Actions to Require In-Person Sale of Firearms

State Launches Public Awareness Campaign Targeting Gun Dealers to Remind Them of New York State Laws

Governor Kathy Hochul, in 2021, signing landmark legislation to crack down on “ghost guns,” untraceable firearms used by criminals to evade background checks. Gun violence was peaking in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic. Now the trump administration is rolling back Biden-era regulations and community violence prevention programs that has resulted in historic declines in gun violence © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Note: The Republican opponent for New York Governor, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, opposed Governor Hochul’s gun safety regulations after the Trump Supreme Court overturned the state’s century-old gun law, and said he wanted to ease access to gun licenses and people should be able to carry guns into religious centers. Governor Hochul, during her term, has worked to reduce the number of guns imported into the state from states with lax gun laws, joining a regional consortium. Trump Administration – and his Attorney General designee Todd Blanche – have declared their love of a Second Amendment without any restrictions or regulation despite the United States having the highest rate of gun violence in the world. An average of 117 to 122 people die from gun-related injuries each day in the United States, according to recent data from the Pew Research Center and public health tracking, a rate that is 26 times higher than peer “developed” countries. This total includes suicides, homicides, accidents, and law enforcement actions.–Karen Rubin/editor@news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced actions in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed rollbacks that would make sweeping and dangerous changes to federal firearms regulations. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced changes to more than 30 rules that will make it easier for dangerous individuals to obtain firearms and harder to hold bad actors in the firearms industry accountable. In response, New York State is taking action by increasing enforcement and education and exploring legislative changes that will blunt the effect of many of these changes and preserve public safety.

“Time and time again, we see the Trump Administration concede to the gun lobby, and these rollbacks are yet another giveaway that will have devastating and dangerous effects across the country,” Governor Hochul said.“ While the federal government paves the way for increased firearm trafficking and putting guns in the hands of those who should not have them, New York State is taking action to blunt their efforts by bolstering our nation-leading gun laws and committing to closing the loopholes that put lives in jeopardy.”

Firearm dealers operating in New York must obtain licensure at the federal and state levels, but action against licensees happens almost exclusively at the federal level. The ATF’s proposed rollbacks are a clear abdication of their responsibility to hold bad actors accountable and keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals, requiring states to increase their enforcement against bad actors.

Governor Hochul announced the following actions alongside the New York State Police and members of New York’s gun safety coalition, including representatives from Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, Giffords, Brady United and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence:

Immediate Actions

Prioritizing State Police Inspections of all Firearms Dealers who are Linked to Crime Guns

New York will step up oversight and enforcement to ensure that its state-licensed dealers are complying with the rigorous standards imposed by law. NYSP will prioritize onsite inspections of all dealers who are determined to be the source of crime guns and will work with the Office of the Attorney General to increase enforcement on dealers who are repeatedly traced to crime guns when appropriate.

Expanding the Scope of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns

Originally convened by Governor Hochul in 2022, New York’s Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns includes local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. The scope of this Task Force will expand to combine resources, share information, and develop strategies to combat increased public safety threats. Governor Hochul has directed Task Force members to reconvene to develop a coordinated interstate response to the ATF rollbacks and commit to regular information sharing related to crime guns located in one state that were purchased in another state.

Launching a Public Education Campaign Targeted at Firearm Dealers

New York State is launching a public awareness campaign and increased enforcement operation targeted specifically at gun dealers to remind them that many of New York’s strong laws remain in effect notwithstanding the federal regulations and must be followed despite the federal rollbacks. The campaign, which will feature direct mailers and emails to firearm dealers and firearm licensing officials, will focus on ATF rollbacks that state law prevents from having practical effect. This will be developed by the Division of Criminal Justice Services in close coordination with the New York State Police.

Legislative Actions

Requiring the In-Person Sale of Firearms

The ATF rule changes would allow for online sales of firearms. At the start of the next legislative session, Governor Hochul plans on introducing legislation to amend the penal law to require in-person sale of firearms. This law change would align firearm sales with ammunition sales, which are required to be done in-person.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has committed more than $4 billion to public safety initiatives and doubled funding to combat gun violence in New York communities. Governor Hochul also partnered with 11 other states to intercept weapons along the I-95 corridor, enhance Red Flag Laws to keep guns away from individuals that are a risk to themselves and others, and strengthened New York’s concealed carry laws in response to the Supreme Court’s reckless Bruen decision. As part of the FY 27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul sustained record-level investments in prevention, intervention and enforcement, including addressing emerging threats as 3-D printed guns and DIY machine guns.

“Here in New York, I’ve been laser focused on this since I was elected back in 2022,” Governor Hochul stated. “Top priority. Crime was off the charts back then. I said, “It is unsustainable. We cannot keep this, this violence in our streets, the bloodshed, it has to stop. Today.” We now have gun violence at an all-time low in New York State. All-time low. It’s not an accident. It’s about investments in public safety and police, historic investments. Smart, targeted law enforcement — seizing illegal guns at record rates, going after emerging threats like those 3D-printed ghost guns. We banned those. We banned those. You know what we also did in our budget? We also banned the sale of the 3D printers in the state of New York, so even if you wanted to make your kitchen table into a munitions factory, you can’t do that anymore without facing down the law of the State of New York. Okay? So that was just done a couple months ago.

“But also, I believe one of the reasons we’re safe is because we’ve made investments and support our advocates in the streets…

“New Yorkers are safer today, more than they were just a few short years ago. But I’m not going to let the rogue cops in Washington undermine our progress.

“My administration will make sure our laws are enforced, and today, I’m announcing that New York State Police will ramp up on-site inspections at all gun dealers — you are on notice — that are linked to firearms and recovered at a crime…

“A background check is everything, it’s so critical. Also, mental health screening — we need to know. There’s people who should not have a gun in their hands, and the federal government doesn’t give a damn. But we do, we do. So you’re not going to be able to give someone a gun, sell a gun to someone without a mental health screening, because you’re going to be in for a rude awakening. This is New York. Welcome to a state that actually likes keeping people alive. We like keeping people alive in this state. So if you don’t follow our laws, oh, boy, consequences. Our police will work directly with our Attorney General, Tish James, and our District Attorneys to shut you down…Follow the laws or we’re shutting you down. And we’re not stopping at our own state borders. No, in New York, 80 percent of the guns recovered at crime scenes originate in other states — 80 percent, 80 percent. So to help fill the void, what I’m going to do is reconvene our Interstate Task Force on illegal guns,” Hochul said.

State Senator Zellnor Myrie said, “As the federal government rolls back common-sense public safety measures, New York is stepping up to protect our communities. I was proud to write the first state law in the nation taking on reckless and irresponsible gun dealers, and today’s actions build on our work to hold bad actors accountable. We will always put safe streets, subways, schools and neighborhoods ahead of the gun industry’s profits.”

Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages said, “Our safety should never be compromised, especially not because of weakened federal oversight. As Washington rolls back basic and commonsense firearm regulations, New York is stepping up to protect our communities and to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a danger. These actions will reinforce our state’s longstanding commitment to preventing gun violence while at the same time respecting responsible gun ownership. I am grateful to Governor Hochul for being clear-eyed and proactive on this issue.”

Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman said, “As the Co-chair of the Subcommittee on Anti-Gun Violence of the NYS BPHA Caucus I stand with my colleagues along with the Governor to do all we can to advance gun safety legislation. We will not stand idle while the federal government rolls back common sense gun safety law. We will continue in the effort to keep our communities safe by keeping illegal guns off the streets, increasing interstate partnership, enforcement, and the education on best gun safety practices. In addition we will continue to advocate for more investments in wrap around services for our youth and families. That includes expanding access to safe spaces like Community Center Concepts in schools, afterschool programs, and stronger support for survivors. We understand that public safety requires common sense legislation and investments in prevention through youth programs, community spaces, and services that help survivors heal and rebuild.”

Senior Firearms Industry Advisor at Everytown for Gun Safety and Former Associate Assistant Director of Field Operations at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives Marianna Mitchem said, “These changes proposed by the ATF prioritize gun industry profits over human lives. They will exacerbate our national gun violence epidemic and undermine public safety in communities across New York State. I want to thank Governor Hochul for the steps New York is taking to protect its communities from gun trafficking and I want to encourage all local and state leaders to step up and follow her example. It is deeply disappointing that the agency I dedicated my career to has decided to cater to the gun industry rather than properly regulate it. But I am hopeful that with actions like those announced today, our communities will not be the ultimate victims of this Administration’s dangerous decisions.”

GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown said, “The Trump administration says it’s tough on crime, but its record says otherwise. They are de-funding law enforcement, dismantling commonsense gun safety rules, and making our communities less safe. With these ATF rule changes, the administration’s actions threaten to undermine years of progress in reducing gun violence, meaning it’s more important than ever for state leaders to take bold action and fight to protect public safety. We’re grateful to Governor Hochul for her continued leadership on public safety, and her continuing the fight to keep New Yorkers safe.”

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Executive Director Rebecca Fischer said, “At a time when the ATF is rolling back critical gun safety regulations that help prevent illegal gun trafficking and keep firearms out of dangerous hands, Governor Hochul is making it clear that New York will not lower its standards. While Washington weakens protections, New York is strengthening them. These proactive actions will help protect New Yorkers, reinforce our nation’s strongest gun safety laws, and send a clear message that public safety comes before politics. New York has proven that strong gun safety laws save lives, and we’re proud to stand with Governor Hochul as she continues to lead the nation in preventing gun violence.”

Brady: United Against Gun Violence President Kris Brown said, “The proposed changes to the ATF will categorically put communities across the country in danger. They are not technical adjustments — they are sweeping structural changes that will reshape how guns are bought and sold in America, a country where gun violence is the number one killer of kids. Rolling back common-sense gun violence prevention measures will make it easier for prohibited purchasers to obtain guns, harder for law enforcement to solve and prosecute gun crimes, and increase the likelihood for ‘mass casualty events.’ We cannot stand idly by and let this happen. We thank Governor Hochul for taking action with us to prevent fallout from these proposed changes and to keep New York communities safe.”

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said, “I commend Governor Hochul for taking bold action to protect New Yorkers from gun violence. The proposed changes to federal firearm regulations threaten the progress our state has made in keeping our communities safe. Allowing firearms to be sold online without requiring an in-person transaction undermines responsible gun safety measures and puts lives at risk. I support the Governor’s effort to codify the requirement for in-person firearm sales into New York State law. In the Bronx, we know all too well the pain and devastation that has struck so many families. Just last weekend, an innocent 12-year-old child was tragically killed after being caught in the crossfire. We must continue advancing thoughtful, commonsense legislation that strengthens public safety, protects our neighborhoods, and helps prevent more families from experiencing trauma and loss from gun violence.”

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said, “At a time when Staten Island and New York City have witnessed historic decreases in homicides and acts of gun violence, the federal government’s decision to roll back firearm safety regulations is the wrong decision at the wrong time and needlessly jeopardizes public safety. These sweeping changes would weaken background checks, make it easier for dangerous individuals to obtain and traffic deadly firearms, and undermine the progress we have made in the fight against gun violence. Simply put, the ATF’s proposed rollbacks are bad for public safety and for the communities my office is tasked with protecting, and I commend Governor Hochul for her swift efforts to counteract these dangerous policies and protect New Yorkers across our State from the deadly scourge of gun violence.”

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “I’m extremely grateful to Governor Hochul for her plan to stop the flow of illegal guns into New York through the infamous ‘Iron Pipeline.’ While Donald Trump is making it easier for trafficked weapons to hit the streets of New York City, Governor Hochul is fighting back at the state level. The Governor will blunt the impact of Trump’s dangerous changes to our gun laws at the federal level by prioritizing State Police inspections of all firearms dealers linked to crime guns, expanding the scope of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns, aligning requirements for firearm background checks with ammunition requirements, and exploring a number of legislative fixes in Albany. The result will be a safer Manhattan and New York City.”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said, “Gun violence and the proliferation of guns in our neighborhoods is a public health crisis that is affecting communities across our state that requires our immediate action and attention. Every day, families in the Bronx are forced to confront unimaginable grief, and far too many of our young people are growing up in fear instead of opportunity. Despite this White House administration’s attempts to roll back progress, I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to keeping our streets safe. Together, we must continue fighting to protect our children, support impacted families, and ensure that every youth in our city can thrive without the shadow of gun violence.”

Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul launched a statewide public service announcement (PSA) campaign to promote secure firearm storage and raise awareness about safe storage options and how to prevent firearm misuse. Led by the New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) within the Division of Criminal Justice Services and developed in partnership with Brady: United Against Gun Violence and the Ad Council, the campaign is part of New York’s comprehensive approach to strengthening public safety and reducing firearm deaths and injuries.

Biden-era gun regulations, instituted when gun violence hit new peaks during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as Hochul’s efforts to reduce gun violence have been successful.

“New York continues to make historic progress reducing gun violence and making our communities safer,” Governor Hochul said. “At the same time, we know too many firearm tragedies happen in homes and involve family members, children and loved ones. This public education campaign will empower gun owners with information and resources on how to securely store their firearms, helping protect their families and prevent needless injuries and deaths.” 

See also: Governor Hochul Launches Secure Firearm Storage Education Campaign, as Gun Violence Continues to Decline Across NYS

Governor Kathy Hochul, Gun Violence Prevention

Keeping New Yorkers Safe: Governor Hochul Highlights Support for Proposals to Crack Down on DIY Machine Guns, 3D-Printed Guns

Rapid Growth of the Plastic Pipeline Threatens To Upend New York’s Record Low Gun Crime

Proposal Builds on New York’s Nation-Leading Gun Laws by Requiring Gun Manufacturers To Design Their Pistols To Prevent Easy Modification Into Illegal Machine Guns

Establishes Criminal Penalties for Unlicensed Manufacture and Sale of 3D-Printed Firearms and Digital Firearm Code, Requires Reporting of All Recovered 3D-Printed Guns

First-in-the-Nation Policy Would Create Minimum Safety Standards for 3D Printer Manufacturers To Block Production of 3D-Printed Firearms and Firearm Components

District Attorneys, Sheriffs and Police Chiefs from Across New York State Support Governor’s Proposals to Prevent the Spread of Illegal DIY Machine Guns and 3D-Printed Ghost Guns

Here’s what I would add to this: why stop at requiring gun manufacturers to design their pistols to prevent easy modification into illegal machine guns? Why don’t federal government, states and municipalities require manufacturers build Smart Guns that can only be fired by the REGISTERED, LICENSED, TRAINED, INSURED gun owner. Your iphone has more protection against fraudulent use than a gun that is used to murder 40,000 people each year – more than die on any battlefield. It would prevent use by those who illegally get their gun through straw buyers, at gun shows, through the mail, would prevent children from accidentally (or purposely) using the gun their parents did not store correctly (or legally). If government required Smart Guns in all their purchases for military, law enforcement, that would provide the threshold for all guns manufactured. It can’t cost all that much – after all, every cell phone now requires it.

Another point: as you look over those who are cheering this proposal (notably Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, ruby-red Staten Island, Suffolk County), missing is the endorsement of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is chomping at the bit to depose Hochul to become governor, or his police chief. Blakeman opposed Hochul’s gun control legislation after the Supreme Court overturned a century-old law (it went into place and has not been challenged), but one can expect that if Blakeman gets into office, there will be no new effort to control access to guns. In fact, he just set up his own gun-toting private militia.  –Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Governor Hochul highlighted growing support among law enforcement for her proposals to strengthen New York’s nation-leading gun laws. Introduced as part of her 2026 State of the State agenda, the proposed legislation would require guns sold in New York to be designed so they cannot be easily modified into illegal machine guns and would establish criminal penalties for the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms as well as the distribution of the digital code used to 3D print firearms. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Hochul, joined by district attorneys, county sheriffs and local police chiefs to highlighted growing support among law enforcement for her proposals to strengthen New York’s nation-leading gun laws. Introduced as part of her 2026 State of the State agenda, the proposed legislation would require guns sold in New York to be designed so they cannot be easily modified into illegal machine guns and would establish criminal penalties for the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms as well as the distribution of the digital code used to 3D print firearms. The proposed legislation would also create a working group to develop minimum safety standards for 3D printer manufacturers to block the production of firearms and firearm components and require police departments and sheriffs’ offices to report recoveries of all 3D printed guns to the state. These measures build on Governor Hochul’s efforts to get guns off the streets, reduce firearm deaths, and combat gun violence in New York State — efforts that are delivering historic results.

“When I became Governor, I promised to do whatever it took to confront the gun violence epidemic head on. By investing over $3 billion in public safety, doubling funding to combat gun violence, and strengthening our State’s gun laws, we’ve successfully taken on the iron pipeline in New York,” Governor Hochul said. “Now, we’re going after the plastic pipeline. To address the rapidly growing threat of DIY machine guns and 3D-printed ghost guns, I am working to ensure our laws remain the strongest and safest in the nation.”

Cracking Down on DIY Machine Guns

Certain types of pistols can easily be converted into DIY machine guns using a small piece of plastic or metal commonly known as a “Glock switch.” Modified pistols equipped with these devices have become a weapon of choice for criminals and have been recovered or used in crimes across New York State, including in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, New York City, the Hudson Valley and Long Island. Between 2019 and 2023, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recovered 11,088 Glock switches. In that period, Glock switch recoveries increased by 784 percent with 5,816 recovered in 2023 alone.

Glock switches are currently illegal to possess under both federal and New York State law, but they are frequently obtained through illicit online purchases or produced using 3D printers at home. Their small size — approximating a Lego brick — allows these switches to be easily obtained or trafficked into the state.

To address these public safety threats, Governor Hochul has proposed legislation that will strengthen product safety standards and protect New Yorkers by requiring firearm manufacturers to design pistols in a way that prevents quick and easy conversion into DIY machine guns.

Stopping the Spread of 3D-Printed Ghost Guns

Governor Hochul is also working to combat the spread of 3D-printed ghost guns with proposals that will:

  • Require that all 3D printers sold in the state be equipped with technology that will block any files designed to produce firearms, their parts, and illegal accessories;
  • Prohibit the sale and distribution of the digital design files that make 3D-printed firearms; and
  • Expand prohibitions on the unlicensed manufacture of firearms and their major components.

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “These proposals give law enforcement the tools needed to address the growing danger posed by 3D-printed and illegally modified firearms. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, the New York State Police and our partners are working to stay ahead of the bad actors who are using new technology for nefarious purposes, and keep our communities safe.”

Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon said, “Governor Hochul’s proposal attacks this issue at the source: requiring that pistols sold in New York be designed so they cannot easily be converted and criminalizing the digital blueprints used to manufacture these weapons and components. Clear, enforceable laws like this are exactly what prosecutors need.”

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane said, “I am extremely grateful to the Governor for her support of public safety initiatives. State funding has enhanced the collaborative efforts of prosecutors, law enforcement and our community partners to achieve unprecedented low levels of gun-involved crimes. We must also strengthen laws in New York State as technology evolves. Individuals who manufacture 3D-printed firearm components or profit from sharing digital instructions must be held accountable. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued leadership and collaboration as we work together to protect the safety of all New Yorkers.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said, “With rapid technological advances, 3D-printed guns are fueling gun violence in New York and are a widening threat to public safety. Bad actors are exploiting any loophole possible to manufacture their own weapons, and we must crack down on their ability to do so. The Governor’s commonsense proposals will help prevent these dangerous weapons from being printed in the first place, and I am grateful for her continued leadership to address gun violence in all its forms.”

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “Brooklyn has reached record lows in shootings and homicides through focused enforcement and strong gun laws, but untraceable 3D-printed guns and illegal conversion devices imperil our progress. Governor Hochul’s proposals will give law enforcement critical tools to confront evolving threats, and I commend her for her leadership on this important issue.”

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “Gun violence causes devastating consequences and takes a profound toll on our communities. Governor Kathy Hochul has been at the forefront of the fight against illegally manufactured guns and the violence they wreak, advancing policies that strengthen public safety and protect New Yorkers. My office is grateful for the tools provided to us and we continue to use every method at our disposal to combat this epidemic, including enforcement, prosecution and hosting community gun buyback events. Our efforts are paying off, as Queens currently accounts for an aggregate of 35 percent of all personally-manufactured ghost gun recoveries citywide over the past five years — an indication of both the scale of the challenge and the focus of our enforcement efforts. These proposals will allow us to initiate investigations sooner and stop gun violence before it starts. I thank Governor Hochul for being a champion of common-sense gun control measures that will save lives.”

Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said, “While Staten Island and New York State as a whole witnessed record lows in shootings and acts of gun violence last year, the threat posed by ghost guns and DIY machine guns has never been more serious. With the ability to transform handguns and semi-automatic firearms into functional machine guns, “Glock switches” and ghost guns are increasingly being used across our State to commit heinous acts of violence. And while my office has successfully investigated and prosecuted countless ghost gun manufacturers, existing loopholes and shortcomings in our laws must be addressed to ensure the safety of all who call New York State home. As criminals and their tactics evolve, so too must the strategies of legislators and law enforcement and I strongly urge our State legislature to put public safety first, and include Governor Hochul’s full gun safety package in this year’s State Budget.”

Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji said, “There can be no legitimate purpose for such modification, often done in the privacy of the basement or garage by someone possibly motivated to inflict the most serious damage on their intended target. This proposal is about prevention which is critical in reduction of violent crimes in communities across the state.”

Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said, “In my years in law enforcement, I have watched the weapons on our streets evolve and the proliferation of DIY machine guns is among the most alarming developments I have seen. Governor Hochul’s proposal puts the obligation where it belongs: on the manufacturers who design pistols that can be converted into illegal automatic weapons with minimal effort. I am proud to stand with law enforcement across this state in support of this common-sense legislation.”

Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said, “Illegal machine gun conversion devices have no place in our communities, and the ease with which certain firearms can be modified into fully automatic weapons presents a serious and growing public safety threat. Requiring that pistols sold in New York be designed to prevent these dangerous modifications is a smart, proactive step that will help keep our law enforcement officers and residents safe. Governor Hochul’s proposal reflects a commonsense approach, targeting the mechanics of how these weapons are misused while respecting lawful gun ownership, and it is exactly the kind of measured, preventative policy we should be advancing.”

Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox said, “We commend the Governor for pushing forward a proposal that directly addresses the growing threat posed by firearms that can easily be converted into fully automatic weapons. At times, law enforcement is overwhelmed by new technology, and devices entering into our communities that make us less safe, less safe for our residents, our children, and our police officers. Prohibiting the sale of firearms that can be readily converted into a fully automatic weapon is a proactive and necessary step to address those challenges. While we continue to see a decrease in gun violence, we must do more to ensure our communities remain safe.”

Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said, “We have made real progress reducing gun violence in this state, but DIY machine guns are a direct threat to that progress. One converted weapon in the wrong hands can generate mass casualties in seconds. Governor Hochul’s proposal requiring gun manufacturers to design their pistols so they cannot be quickly and easily turned into machine guns is a meaningful product safety standard. Our communities have earned the progress we have made. This legislation helps us protect it.”

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. said, “Safer communities start with getting illegal guns off our streets. These DIY firearms are unlawful, designed with criminal intent in mind and pose a serious threat to public safety and to law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day. I commend Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to public safety and taking action to keep our residents safe.”

Albany Mayor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs said, “Illegal firearms are a growing threat to public safety across the state. These weapons are untraceable and too often up in the wrong hands. I support Governor Hochul’s efforts to close gaps in legislation and give our law enforcement agencies the tools they need to respond. Holding manufacturers accountable, establishing clear penalties, and setting safety standards for this type of technology are practical steps that reflect the reality we are facing. Our public safety response must evolve as the challenges in front of us change. In Albany, my Administration’s priority is keeping residents safe, and that means supporting policies that help prevent illegal guns from reaching our streets in the first place.”

Governor Kathy Hochul, Gun Violence Prevention

Safer Streets: NYS Governor Hochul Credits GIVE Initiative for 60% Drop in Gun Violence Since 2021

Lowest Number of Shootings for First 11 Months of The Year Since 2006

28 Communities Participating in GIVE Also Reported 81 Fewer Shooting Incidents With Injury and 142 Fewer People Shot From January to November 2025 vs. 2024

Double-Digit Decreases in Shooting Incidents With Injury in Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse During First 11 Months of 2025 vs. Last Year

Governor Hochul’s Doubling of Funding for Nationally Recognized State Initiative Has Contributed to Sustained Progress in Reducing Gun Violence 

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul on Long Island announcing drop in crime. Governor Hochul announced that shooting incidents with injury in the 28 communities that participate in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative have dropped 60 percent since she took office in 2021, with the lowest number of incidents with injury reported for the first 11 months of the year since the state began tracking this data in 2006. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

As trump reallocates law enforcement and military assets to pick up garbage instead of protect communities and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose only crime-fighting initiative was to establish a murky private militia and ban wearing masks in public, and promising to set up border control on the New York City line in reaction to Mamdani’s election to Mayor, announces his candidacy for Governor, Governor Kathy Hochul announced significant success in reducing gun violence as a result of her Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative.—Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that shooting incidents with injury in the 28 communities that participate in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative have dropped 60 percent since she took office in 2021, with the lowest number of incidents with injury reported for the first 11 months of the year since the state began tracking this data in 2006. New statistics reported to the State Division of Criminal Justice Services by those police departments also show 81 fewer shootings and 142 fewer people shot from January to November 2025 as compared to the same time last year. Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse continue to lead the way with double-digit declines in gun violence. Governor Hochul’s investment of more than $3 billion in public safety — including doubling the annual funding to combat gun violence through GIVE and expanding the communities eligible for funding through the initiative — has contributed to these dramatic reductions in gun violence. 

“When I came into office, gun violence was surging. Thanks to our record investments in public safety and law enforcement, we are seeing major progress in our ongoing mission to eradicate gun violence from our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “By partnering with more than two dozen police agencies, we are driving down gun crimes to record lows — and I remain laser focused on doing everything in my power to keep New Yorkers safe.”

Governor Hochul announced record-low shooting data with local elected officials and law enforcement executives from the Albany Police Department, which experienced the largest reductions of any GIVE jurisdiction. Albany saw a 47 percent drop in shooting incidents with injury and a 44 percent decrease in shooting victims during the first 11 months of this year compared to 2024.

The 28 police departments participating in GIVE reported 477 shooting incidents with injury during January through November 2025, a 15 percent drop compared to the 558 incidents reported during the same period last year. The number of people shot decreased by 21 percent, 547 compared to 689, and there were 29 fewer gun violence-related deaths, 87 compared to 116, during the same time frame.

The GIVE initiative currently provides $36 million in State funding for equipment, overtime, and personnel, as well as comprehensive, focused training and technical assistance, to participating police departments and their county law enforcement partners: district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices. These police departments are on the front lines of fighting gun violence outside of New York City and account for roughly 90 percent of violent crimes involving firearms and 85 percent of all violent crime reported outside the five boroughs.

Governor Hochul also highlighted the work of the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, one of 11 in a unique, statewide network supported by DCJS in partnership with local law enforcement agencies. The center, located at Albany Police Headquarters, is currently staffed by crime analysts, police and probation officers, and investigators from 10 local, state and county law enforcement agencies from across the region. Through October, the center had handled 13,198 requests for service that have allowed police and prosecutors to more effectively solve, reduce and prevent crime. The center serves agencies from 11 counties — Albany, Columbia, Greene, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie, Warren and Washington — and any agency upon request.

“Law enforcement had not been funded at the levels I believed was appropriate… I knew this coming in as Governor, and I wanted to change that dynamic radically — and we have,” Governor Hochul noted. “We funded police and public safety now at record levels; $3 billion over the last few years — that is staggering… We’ve more than doubled the funding to the GIVE initiative, and that expanded to eight additional police departments, four more counties. So we now provide funding to 28 law enforcement agencies in 21 counties…

“I’ve been going all over the state from Long Island up to Buffalo to see exactly how they’re using the money we’ve deployed,” Governor Hochul. “They’re equipping our officers with the best crime fighting technology. Whether it’s license plate readers or whether it’s in-vehicle computer systems that connect to others, whether it’s drone technology, I’ve seen everything… Last year we had the lowest number of shootings on record… With only three weeks left in 2025, we’re on our way to shattering last year’s record. So we’re keeping it going. We’re keeping the momentum going. It was not just a one-off and we’re done and we’re mission accomplished. We’re still moving forward to drive the numbers down even more.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “I want to offer my gratitude to Governor Hochul for the resources provided to help the State Police focus on this public safety mission. The numbers show that reducing gun violence is no small matter. They are a testament to the immense support and dedication of law enforcement to disrupt the flow of illegal guns and to locate and mitigate their source of supply. The State Police remains committed to leveraging partnerships with our law enforcement partners to continue the reduction of gun violence in New York State.”

State Senator Patricia Fahy said,“This year, Albany experienced the largest drop in gun violence of any GIVE jurisdiction in New York State with a 47 percent drop in shooting incidents with injury and a 44 percent decrease in shooting victims. That is real lives saved, neighborhoods beginning to heal, and a positive step in the right direction for the Capital Region. When we implement community-based solutions with organizations like SNUG and partner with local law enforcement, we address the root causes of gun violence while taking illegal guns off the streets, which ultimately makes our communities safer. Where there is progress, however, there remains work to be done, and I will continue to aggressively address the epidemic of gun violence with my colleagues in the State Legislature and Governor Hochul. Every resident in every neighborhood across our Capital City deserves to feel safe in their communities and on their streets and today represents an important step forward in the fight against gun violence here in our Capital Region.”

Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, “The ongoing investments in technology, recruitment, and evidence-based programs like GIVE are delivering measurable results. Communities across the Capital Region are witnessing significantly fewer shootings, fewer victims, and safer neighborhoods because we are giving law enforcement the tools and training they need to prevent violence before it occurs. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s support for these efforts, and I will continue championing policies and resources in the State Legislature that help keep our families and communities safe.”

In addition to significant decreases in gun violence in Albany, Governor Hochul’s sustained investment in GIVE funding has contributed double-digit decreases in shooting incidents with injury in Buffalo (18 percent) and Syracuse (13 percent), during the first 11 months of this year compared to 2024. These police departments participating in GIVE also reported declines in shooting incidents with injury during the same timeframe:

  • Village of Hempstead Police Department
  • Mount Vernon Police Department
  • Nassau County Police Department
  • Niagara Falls Police Department
  • Poughkeepsie Police Department
  • Rochester Police Department
  • Troy Police Department
  • Utica Police Department

Nassau County Municipal Police Chiefs Association President Chief Brian Paladino said, “Gun violence can only be stopped with a community partnership between the police department and community members. The GIVE Program allows these relationships to blossom as communities get behind the police department and help us get guns off the street. The result of which is a safer community and getting guns out of the hands of criminals who are detrimental to the future of the community. I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul for her continued support for programs that help address public safety.”

Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs said, “Here in Hempstead, we know how much our families depend on safe streets, and GIVE has helped us make real progress block by block. Governor Hochul’s continued investment means our police officers have stronger tools, technology and partnerships to address gun violence in the places that need it most. We’re committed to building on this momentum so every resident from Terrace Avenue to Jackson Street can feel the difference in their daily lives.”

An interactive dashboard featuring current-year and historical data reported by each of the 28 police departments is available on the DCJS statistics page.

New York City also experienced notable declines. Through Dec. 7, the NYPD reported a 23 percent decrease in shootings (662 vs. 862) and a 22 percent drop in shooting victims (823 vs. 1,048) compared to the same period in 2024.

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced that she secured record-level funding for GIVE for the third consecutive year: $36.38 million, with $36 million awarded and the remainder reserved for emerging needs identified by participating agencies, which are required to use evidence-based strategies to drive down shootings and combat violent crime. See the breakdown of funding awarded to GIVE partners in 21 counties outside of New York City for the contract period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the state’s criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; overseeing a law enforcement accreditation program; ensuring Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; managing criminal justice grant funding; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; overseeing county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinating youth justice policy. Follow DCJS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

Gun Violence Prevention, Jewish issues, News & Photo Features

Vice President Kamala Harris Marks 6 Years Since the Tree of Life Synagogue Massacre in Pittsburgh Decrying Antisemitism, Gun Violence

“We’ve seen this before.” A reminder of Trump’s WhiteChristoFascism that triggered the Tree of Life massacre, on view during Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden where hate-filled rhetoric promoting violence evoked the 1939 rally of American Fascists supporting Hitler. Six years ago, the same Trump anti-immigrant antisemitic rhetoric enabled by lose gun laws spurred the Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh. It is frankly astonishing to see how many religious Jews are making common cause with the NeoNazis like Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who are Trump’s base of supporters . Vice President Kamala Harris marked the anniversary decrying antisemitism and calling for sensible gun control © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

In stark contrast to the hate-filled rally Trump was holding at Madison Square Garden that evoked the 1939 American Nazi rally and has spurred a litany of hate-crimes and political violence Trump has mined and promoted to fuel his ascent to political power, Vice President Kamala Harris marked the six-year anniversary of the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh on October 27 decrying antisemitism, bigotry and calling for sensible gun reform that keeps weapons built for the battlefield out of the hands of the deranged and domestic terrorists. Here is her statement:– Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com, news-photos-features.com

Today marks six years since a white supremacist used a weapon of war to murder 11 precious souls and wound many more at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. This unspeakable act — fueled by antisemitic hate — was the deadliest attack on the American Jewish community in our Nation’s history. As we remember the victims of this horrific mass shooting, we also honor the courage of the first responders, some of whom were injured during this attack, and commemorate the resilience of the Pittsburgh community. This summer, ground was broken on the nation’s first museum and education center on the history of antisemitism in America at the site of the synagogue, a symbol of this enduring strength.

As we know, today’s remembrance also comes amid a rise of antisemitism, here and around the world. Earlier this month, we marked one year since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack against Israel in which 1,200 innocent people were massacred, 250 people taken hostage, and where Hamas committed unspeakable sexual violence. 

I will always work to ensure the safety and security of Jewish people in the United States and around the world, and will always call out antisemitism whenever and wherever we see it. Doug and I are proud to have worked alongside President Biden to combat antisemitism, including through the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. This work is not new for me: I have spent my entire career fighting antisemitism, including prosecuting hate crimes as a District Attorney and publishing an annual report on hate crimes as Attorney General of California to ensure that policymakers and law enforcement respond with a sense of urgency to this crisis. And since the beginning of our administration, we have secured record funding for the physical security of nonprofits and faith-based institutions around the country, including synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and Jewish day schools.

 Additionally, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights continues to investigate cases of antisemitism and other forms of hate on campus making clear that each university must ensure all students and faculty are safe and secure on campus.  We also continue our work to ensure that every person in our Nation can live free from gun violence — in their places of worship, schools, and communities. To take on the epidemic of gun violence, our administration enacted the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years and created the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which I am proud to lead.

Today, Doug and I stand in solidarity with the survivors of this attack, the families who lost loved ones, and the entire Jewish community.

Biden Administration, Gun Violence Prevention, News & Photo Features

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Action to Implement Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Expanding Firearm Background Checks to Fight Gun Crime

New Department of Justice final rule sets strong standard for gun sellers who have to get a license and conduct background checks. But President Biden called on Congress to enact universal background checks and finish the job. This fact sheet is provided by the White House: 

New York City protests for sensible gun regulation. New Department of Justice final rule sets strong standard for gun sellers who have to get a license and conduct background checks. But President Biden called on Congress to enact universal background checks and finish the job. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a new rule that will save lives by reducing the number of firearms sold without background checks. This final rule implements the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act’s expansion of firearm background checks—the only significant expansion of the background check requirement since then-Senator Biden helped shepherd the Brady Bill over the finish line in 1993. This action is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy to stem the flow of illegally acquired firearms into our communities and hold accountable those who supply the firearms used in crime. 

“I’ve spent hours with families who’ve lost loved ones to gun violence,” President Joe Biden stated. “They all have the same message: ‘Do something.’ Today, my Administration is taking action to make sure fewer guns are sold without background checks. This is going to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and felons. And my Administration is going to continue to do everything we possibly can to save lives. Congress needs to finish the job and pass universal background checks legislation now.”
 
“Every year, thousands of unlicensed gun dealers sell tens of thousands of guns without a background check, including to buyers who would have failed one – domestic abusers, violent felons, and even children,” stated Vice President Kamala Harris. “This single gap in our federal background check system has caused unimaginable pain and suffering. Today, as the head of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, I am proud to say that all gun dealers must conduct background checks no matter where or how they sell.”
 
The federal gun background check system is one of the best tools we have to keep guns out of the hands of individuals prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms, including domestic abusers and other violent criminals. But the loopholes in America’s background check laws have enabled domestic abusers, school shooters, violent criminals, and gun traffickers to illegally acquire firearms. Over the past 20 years, there have been numerous failed efforts to close these loopholes and expand background checks, including a bipartisan attempt in 1999 that followed the shooting at Columbine High School, and another bipartisan attempt in 2013 that followed the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
 
In 2022, President Biden accomplished what many had tried for the past 20 years—he succeeded in expanding background checks by signing into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This law broadened the category of gun sellers required to become licensed dealers and run background checks. In 2023, President Biden signed an Executive Order to accelerate implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, including by directing the Attorney General to move the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation by clarifying the new Act. The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) final rule clarifies the type of conduct that requires a person to get a license to sell guns and to conduct background checks. By setting clear standards for when someone is dealing firearms, the rule provides the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with proactive tools to enforce the law and keep our communities safe.
 
Background Check Loopholes Have Deadly Consequences
 
Since 1994, federal law has required federally licensed firearms dealers to run background checks prior to selling or transferring a weapon. These background checks have helped keep guns out of the hands of more than three million individuals who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. Despite the law, a growing number of unlicensed sellers continue to sell firearms for profit to complete strangers they meet at gun shows and online marketplaces, which has been a critical gap in the background check laws.
 
For the past 30 years, individuals who could not pass a background check sought out unlicensed sellers in order to evade the background check system. One investigation found that 1 in 9 people who respond to online ads from unlicensed sellers would fail a background check. Tragic consequences of this unlawful conduct include: 

  • In 1999, the school shooters from the Columbine High School shooting were both under 18 and too young to purchase firearms legally. The shooters had their acquaintance purchase firearms for them at a gun show through an unlicensed seller to avoid a background check.
  • In 2012, a domestic abuser was barred from possessing firearms following a restraining order taken out by his estranged wife. The day before the abuser killed his wife and two others, and injuring four at the Azana Salon in Wisconsin, he purchased a gun from an unlicensed seller he met online without a background check.
  • In 2019, a man shot and killed seven people and wounded dozens more after a multiple-location shooting in Midland and Odessa, Texas. The shooter had previously tried to purchase a gun from a sporting goods store but was stopped by a background check because of his mental health history. He was ultimately able to purchase an AR-15 assault-style rifle without a background check from an unlicensed seller he met online.

Unlicensed dealers who do not conduct background checks are also the largest source of firearms that are illegally trafficked into our communities. In an assessment of its gun trafficking investigations from 2017 to 2021, ATF identified sales by unlicensed dealers as the most frequently used gun trafficking channel. Moreover, unlicensed dealers were the source of more than half of the firearms identified as having been trafficked during the five-year study period—a total of more than 68,000 illegally trafficked firearms.


Final Rule Implements New Law, Expanding Background Check Requirement to Tens of Thousands of Gun Sales


The Department of Justice’s final rule implements the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act—the largest expansion of background checks since the Brady Bill became law.
The final rule makes clear when a person needs to become a licensed dealer and run background checks, and gives the Department of Justice additional tools to crack down on individuals illegally selling guns without background checks. Specifically, the final rule:

  • Lists the types of commercial activity indicating that a person must become a licensed dealer and run background checks, absent evidence showing they are in fact not engaged in the business of firearms dealing. For example, if a person is repetitively selling guns of the same or similar make and model within one year of their purchase, they are supposed to become a licensed dealer. If a person repetitively sells firearms within thirty days of purchasing those firearms, or selling firearms and tells potential buyers that they can acquire additional firearms for that buyer to purchase, the seller is supposed to become a licensed dealer.
  • States that the gun show or online sale loopholes do not exist. If you are conducting business that in a brick-and-mortar store would require you to become a licensed dealer, you have to become a licensed dealer and run background checks. It does not matter whether you are dealing firearms at a gun show, online, in your home, in the trunk of a car, at a flea market, or anywhere else—you must obtain a license and run background checks results. Evidence that a person placed ads online or reserved a table at a gun show shows that the person is intending to profit from the sale.
  • Prevents people from evading the licensing and background check requirements by claiming that they are just selling a few guns. The final rule clarifies that even a single firearm transaction may be sufficient to require a license, if there is other behavior to suggest commercial activity. For example, a person selling just one gun and then saying to others they are willing and able to purchase more firearms for resale may be required to obtain a license and run background checks.
  • Prevents people from falsely claiming that guns are part of a personal collection in an attempt to evade the law. The statute explicitly states that making occasional sales of a firearm from a personal collection or liquidating collection does not require a federal firearms license or background checks. However, people have evaded the background check requirement by falsely claiming they are selling their personal collection. The final rule makes clear that a personal collection of firearms is limited to collections acquired for specific reasons like study; comparison; exhibition; or for a hobby, like hunting or sport shooting. A bona fide personal collection is not the same as business inventory.
  • Closes the so-called firesale loophole. Gun dealers who have had their licenses revoked have sometimes then sold their former business inventory without running background checks. The final rule makes clear that a business inventory may not be transferred to a person’s personal collection after a license is revoked. Instead, a business could dispose of this inventory through another licensed seller who runs background checks.


There are over 80,000 licensed gun dealers in America. The Department of Justice estimates that there are over 20,000 unlicensed sellers who are selling firearms through online advertisements, gun shows, and other means. These unlicensed sellers should be licensed under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the new rule, and therefore conducting background checks. An alternative estimate based on survey data estimates that the new rule could affect gun sales being made by over 80,000 individuals. Legal limitations on tracking firearms make such estimates difficult to quantify.
 
Final Rule Builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Commitment to Stopping the Illegal Flow of Guns
 
The Biden-Harris Administration has deployed a historic effort to partner with state and local law enforcement and keep communities safe by addressing the illegal sources of guns. The strategy is focused not just on the person who pulled the trigger of a firearm, but also on all of the links in the chain that led to the firearm being in the wrong hands, including the gun trafficker, the source of the gun trafficker’s firearms, rogue gun dealers who are willfully violating the law, and ghost gun manufacturers. Key Administration actions to stop the illegal flow of guns into our communities include:

  • Gun Trafficking Law Enforcement:  In 2021, the Justice Department launched five new law enforcement strike forces focused on addressing significant firearms trafficking corridors that have diverted guns to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also enacted the first ever federal gun trafficking law and federal straw purchasing law. The new gun trafficking law has been used to charge more than 300 people and led to the seizure of over 1,500 firearms.
  • Cracking Down on Rogue Gun Dealers:  The Justice Department enacted a new policy to maximize the efficacy of ATF resources to crack down on rogue gun dealers violating our laws and underscored zero tolerance for willful violations of the law by federally licensed firearms dealers that put public safety at risk. The new ATF inspection policies have led to 245 license revocations over the past two years, which is the highest two-year total in nearly twenty years.
  • Stopping Gun Manufacturers Illegally Selling Ghost Guns:  The Justice Department issued a final rule to rein in the proliferation of ghost guns, which are unserialized, privately made firearms that are increasingly being recovered at crime scenes. According to ATF, the recovery of ghost guns by law enforcement increased 1,083 percent between 2017 and 2021. The Biden-Harris Administration cracked down on ghost guns by making clear that businesses manufacturing the most accessible ghost guns, including “buy-build-shoot” kits and certain polymer handgun frames (including certain Polymer80 handgun frames) must comply with federal firearm laws requiring background checks, a federal license, and markings, such as serial numbers.
  • Senate Confirmed ATF Director: President Biden secured the confirmation of ATF Director Steve Dettelbach, the first permanent ATF Director in over seven years to lead the agency tasked with enforcing our nation’s gun laws.
  • Crime Gun Intelligence Centers: ATF works with state and local law enforcement to establish crime gun intelligence centers, which uses the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) and crime gun tracing to provide investigative leads to solve shootings and identify gun trafficking channels.
  • New Analysis on Gun Trafficking: In 2021, President Biden announced that the ATF would publish the first gun trafficking analysis in twenty years. ATF has published three volumes, with the most recent volume showing that the most frequent type of trafficking channel identified in ATF gun trafficking investigations was unlicensed firearms dealing by private persons at 40.7 percent. These investigations accounted for over half of the firearms identified as trafficked in ATF investigations. The second most frequent trafficking channel was straw purchasers.

Call for Congress to Act
 
While the Biden-Harris Administration is moving as close as possible to universal background checks without additional legislation, President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to call on Congress to enact universal background checks and finish the job.
 
The President and Vice President also continue to call on Congress to increase funding for the ATF so the agency can continue its life-saving work to stop the flow of illegal firearms into our communities. The President requested $2 billion for ATF as part of his FY 25 budget request.

Biden Administration, Gun Violence Prevention, News & Photo Features

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Actions to Fight Crime and Make Our Communities Safer

March For Our Lives, New York City, 2022. The Biden Administration reviewed actions taken to make communities safer from gun violence, bringing down murder rates from the Trump-era’s record high in 2020. But President Biden continues to urge Congress to take commonsense actions to prevent and combat crime and advance public safety. Congress should enact universal background checks, require safe storage of firearms, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. It should pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to advance accountability, transparency, and public trust in law enforcement. Building public trust advances public safety. And it should pass the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigations Methods (VICTIM) Act to help communities solve murders and violent gun crimes as well as support victims. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

President Biden delivered remarks on the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions to fight crime and make our communities safer. The Administration has taken a three-part approach to public safety and fighting crime: funding effective, accountable policing; investing in intervention and prevention strategies; and keeping especially dangerous guns off our streets and out of dangerous hands.

“My administration is going to choose progress over politics, and communities across the country are safer as a result of that policy,” President Biden declared. “There is no greater responsibility than to ensure the safety of families, children, communities, and our nation.” 

Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) and the Department of Labor (DOL) hosted a roundtable on improving job opportunities for communities affected by gun violence and discuss the connection between workforce development and violence intervention and prevention.

During the roundtable, DOL also discussed its Growth Opportunities Program, which provides up to $85 million to improve job opportunities for youth in communities affected by violence and poverty. This recently announced funding opportunity supports programs that provide skills training through work-based learning, employment services, educational support and mentorship to youth and young adults in communities affected by violence, crime and poverty.

These funds provided by the Growth Opportunities Program build on efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to prevent crime and promote public safety, including $15 billion provided by the President’s American Rescue Plan to support additional police officers, expand community violence intervention, add crisis responders, and more. While the President’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) — the most significant gun safety legislation in the last 30 years — provides $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives, in addition to key investments for schools to expand mental health services and violence intervention programs. 

The positive impacts of the President’s strategy to prevent and reduce crime and gun violence nationwide are already apparent. According to 2023 FBI data, there has been a significant drop in crime – including one of the largest yearly declines in homicides ever. By comparison, during the final year of the prior administration in 2020, the United States saw the largest increase in murders ever recorded. Key provisions created by the BCSA are beginning to deliver results in making communities safer against gun violence, including recent announcements by the Department of Justice on stopping more than 500 illegal gun purchases by people under 21 years old who presented a danger to our communities, and hundreds of charges brought by the Justice Department for illegal gun purchases and firearms trafficking.

“The President knows more can and must be done, which is why OGVP, overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris, continues to identify executive orders to save lives, while also announcing new initiatives to encourage action at the state and local level,” a White House official stated. “This past December, the Vice President convened 100 state legislators at the White House to launch the Biden-Harris Administration’s Safer States Initiative, providing states with additional tools and the support they need to reduce gun violence—and we have already seen states begin to answer the call and implement these critical measures. Last month, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice, also announced new executive actions to help promote safe storage of firearms that implement President Biden’s Executive Order on promoting safe gun storage, which has been shown to dramatically reduce children’s risk of self-inflicted harm and unintentional shootings.”

These are just a few examples of the progress that is being made under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris to protect our communities, schools and children, and end the epidemic of gun violence that is leaving empty seats at dinner tables across the country. 

The Second Gentleman also continues to show up for communities affected by gun violence, meeting with victims and families in Parkland, Florida; Uvalde, Texas; Highland Park, Illinois; and the Tree of Life Community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This past December, the Second Gentleman also delivered remarks at the 11th Annual Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence.

The White House provided this fact sheet reviewing the Biden-Harris administration’s actions to fight crime and make communities safer. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is hearing a case challenging the ban on bump stocks that turn assault weapons into illegal machine guns.

During the previous Administration, America saw the largest increase in murders ever recorded in 2020; Under the Biden-Harris Administration, there has been a significant decrease in crime – including one of the largest yearly declines in homicides ever.

The historic declines in crime mean that America is safer. The Biden-Harris Administration has taken a three-part approach to public safety and fighting crime: funding effective, accountable policing; investing in intervention and prevention strategies; and keeping especially dangerous guns off our streets and out of dangerous hands.
 
That balanced approach is the hallmark of the President’s Safer America Plan, which calls on Congress to invest $37 billion to support law enforcement and crime prevention, including by funding 100,000 additional police officers for accountable community policing, consistent with the standards set out in the President’s executive order on policing; community violence intervention and crisis responders; and commonsense gun reforms such as background checks.
 
And states and localities have adopted this balanced approach through one of the largest investments ever in public safety:  The President’s American Rescue Plan – which every Republican elected official in Congress voted against – has helped states and over one thousand cities, towns, and counties across the country to invest over $15 billion to public safety and violence prevention. Communities have invested those funds to support additional police officers, expand community violence intervention, add crisis responders, and more.  And today we are seeing real results:  Cities around the country are experiencing historic declines in violent crime, and homicides are estimated to be down nationally 12% from 2022 to 2023.  
 
By comparison, during the final year of the Trump Administration in 2020, the United States saw the largest increase in murders ever recorded.
 
Communities have leveraged funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan to reduce crime:
 

  • Detroit invested more than $100 million for public safety, including to pay bonuses that enabled the city to hire 200 new police officers, advance community violence intervention, and expand teams of police and mental health professionals who can respond to people in crisis. In 2023, Detroit had its fewest homicides since 1966, with an 18% decline from 2022.
     
  • Milwaukee invested over $40 million to pay new officers engaging in community policing, fund gun crime investigations, and increase the number of dispatchers to handle 911 calls. The city improved city street lighting, supported community violence intervention efforts, and expanded summer programs for at-risk youth.  The city and county of Milwaukee also partnered with the state of Wisconsin to invest $28 million more on anti-violence efforts, including to reduce dramatically the court backlog of violent crime cases. In 2023, homicides in Milwaukee dropped 20%. 
     
  • Philadelphia invested millions in group-violence intervention and community crisis intervention programs. It also partnered with the state of Pennsylvania to devote $45 million more to upgrade the city’s crime lab, reduce gun violence, and investigate and prosecute violent gun crimes, as well as further support violence intervention and prevention. In 2023, Philadelphia experienced record crime declines, including a 20% drop in homicides and a 28% decline in nonfatal shootings.
     
  • Chicago invested $100 million for public safety, including $16 million for community violence intervention focused on those at the highest risk of violence, $15 million to support alternative responders for 911 calls involving health crises, $30 million for youth intervention and diversion programs, and $10 million to support victims of crime. In addition to these targeted investments to reduce violence, Chicago is making additional significant investments to expand opportunity for young people – including hiring nearly 25,000 young people over the summer and investing $53 million for youth employment programs. Chicago also received $6.25 million in grants from the Department of Justice to hire or retain 50 additional officers. Chicago saw a 13% drop in homicides in 2023, and nonfatal shootings declined 17%.

 
The President’s Safer America Agenda:
 
Funding Effective, Accountable Policing
 

  • In 2023, the Department of Justice alone provided state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations nearly $5.8 billion to advance public safety, $1 billion more than just two years earlier. Those grants included more than $200 million to fund 1,730 new police officers in nearly 400 communities.  The Department of Justice’s 2023 grant funding also included more than $173 million in site-based funding to improve school safety.      
     
  • The President signed and is continuing to implement a historic Executive Order to advance police reform which required that federal law enforcement agencies ban chokeholds, strengthen use-of-force policies, restrict no-knock warrants, and direct other measures to advance effective, accountable policing that increases public safety.

 
Investing in Violent Crime Prevention and Intervention
 
President Biden has secured historic investments in crime prevention and intervention strategies, including strategies to prevent crime. For example:
 

  • President Biden secured the first-ever federal funding solely dedicated to community violence interventions, and has increased funding for violence intervention programs.
     
  • The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act includes the biggest ever one-time investment in mental health through the Department of Education, to help students deal with a range of mental health issues, including the trauma resulting from gun violence. To date, nearly $300 million has been distributed and will help to hire or train 14,000 mental health professionals for our schools.
     
  • Thanks to the President’s leadership and through the historic resources in the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, HHS has increased funding for mobile crisis teams and training for first responders and law enforcement to respond appropriately and safely to people with mental health challenges. DOJ has funded the creation and delivery of de-escalation training.
     
  • The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act secured $750 million to support crisis interventions.

 
Keeping Dangerous Guns Out of Our Communities and Guns Out of Dangerous Hands
 
President Biden and his Administration have taken more executive action to reduce gun crime than any other President. For example:

  • After hearing from law enforcement that they were increasingly finding “ghost guns” at crime scenes, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued a final rule to rein in the proliferation of these unserialized firearms.
     
  • The Justice Department launched five new law enforcement strike forces focused on addressing significant firearms trafficking corridors that have diverted guns to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. 

In addition, President Biden secured confirmation of Steve Dettelbach to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – after this critical law enforcement agency lacked confirmed leadership since 2015. Under Director Dettelbach’s leadership, ATF is driving data-driven prioritization to focus on the gun dealers most closely connected to gun violence and have revoked the licenses of those that have endangered public safety by willfully violating the law ATF is also partnering with state and local officials to establish joint Crime Gun Intelligence Centers to bring gun trafficking and violent crime prosecutions.
 
In 2022, the President signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act—the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in nearly 30 years. That law includes:
 

  • The first ever federal gun trafficking and straw purchasing law, which has allowed the Department of Justice to charge more than 300 defendants.
     
  • Broadening the definition of who must become a licensed dealer and run background checks before selling guns.
     
  • Enhanced background checks for gun purchasers under the age of 21, which has already helped stop the transfer of firearms to prohibited persons under 21 more than 600 times.

 
In 2023, the President established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to accelerate his work to reduce gun crime and other forms of gun violence.
 
Congress Needs to Act. The President also continues to urge Congress to take commonsense actions to prevent and combat crime and advance public safety. Congress should enact universal background checks, require safe storage of firearms, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. It should pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to advance accountability, transparency, and public trust in law enforcement. Building public trust advances public safety. And it should pass the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigations Methods (VICTIM) Act to help communities solve murders and violent gun crimes as well as support victims.
 
Despite the progress we have made, we can and must do more to reduce crime and save lives. President Biden will continue to call on Republican elected officials in Congress to support these lifesaving law enforcement actions rather than standing in the way.

Biden Administration, Gun Violence Prevention

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Launches Safer States Initiative, Highlights New Executive Actions to Reduce Gun Violence

New Yorkers march, plead for regulations to stop the scourge of gun violence. In the absence of Congressional action, the Biden-Harris administration opened a White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, launched the Safer States Initiative and introduced new executive actions to reduce gun violence © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

The Biden Administration, in its effort to stem the gun violence epidemic, has launched the Safer States Initiative and introduced new executive actions to reduce Gun Violence. (You can bet a Republican administration would reverse any initiatives.) This fact sheet is from the White House: – Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

In September 2023, President Biden established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris. President Biden tasked the office with four key responsibilities, including enhancing the federal government’s partnerships with cities and states to help them advance their own efforts to reduce gun violence.
 
Vice President Harris has launched the Biden-Harris Administration’s Safer States Initiative to provide states with additional tools and the support they need to reduce gun violence and save lives. To kick off the initiative, the White House released the Biden-Harris Safer States Agenda, outlining key actions states should take, including:

  • Establishing a State Office of Gun Violence Prevention;
  • Investing in evidence-informed solutions to prevent and respond to gun violence, including community violence interventions, Crime Gun Intelligence Centers, and implementation of Extreme Risk Protection Orders;
  • Strengthening support for survivors and victims of gun violence;
  • Reinforcing responsible gun ownership, including by requiring safe storage of firearms and reporting of lost and stolen firearms;
  • Strengthening gun background checks, including by enacting universal background checks legislation and removing barriers to completing enhanced background checks; and
  • Holding the gun industry accountable, including by banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and enacting firearm-specific liability laws to ensure that victims of gun violence have their day in court.

To help states advance this agenda, the Justice Department announced two new executive actions to reduce gun violence.  

  • Safe Storage Model Legislation. Safe storage saves lives. It is one tool in the toolkit to reduce school shootings, because we know that most often those students who carry out K-12 school shootings are using firearms they obtain from the home of a friend or family member. It is also a critical strategy to reduce suicide by firearms, accidental shootings, and the theft of firearms. The Department of Justice’s model legislation details how states can require the safe storage of firearms, including in vehicles, and hold individuals liable for harm caused by unsecured firearms.
     
  • Lost and Stolen Firearms Reporting Model Legislation. Reporting of lost and stolen firearms allows law enforcement to investigate and prosecute firearms trafficking. The Department of Justice’s model legislation provides states with a framework for requiring that a person promptly report the loss or theft to law enforcement.   

In the months ahead, the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention will continue to proactively work with states to make sure they have additional resources and support needed to advance these agenda items.

Biden Administration, Gun Violence Prevention, News & Photo Features

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Another Life-Saving Step to Keep Guns Out of Dangerous Hands

March for Our Lives, Washington DC, 2018. Amid yet another senseless shooting on college campus and racist-motivated murders at a Jacksonville, Florida grocery store, concern as students start another school year, and as the number of mass shootings continue to hit records, with 120 people dying each day from gun violence, President Biden is taking life-saving action to reduce the number of guns sold without background checks and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Amid yet another senseless shooting on college campus and racist-motivated murders at a Jacksonville, Florida grocery store, concern as students start another school year, and as the number of mass shootings continue to hit new records, with 120 people dying each day from gun violence, President Biden is taking life-saving action to reduce the number of guns sold without background checks and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. – Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

In March, President Biden signed an Executive Order directing the Attorney General to move as close to universal background checks as possible within existing law. Today, as a result of the Executive Order and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Department of Justice is taking life-saving action to reduce the number of guns sold without background checks and keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
 
Why the Biden-Harris Administration is Taking Action
 
Since 1994, federal law has required federally licensed firearms dealers to run background checks prior to selling or transferring a weapon. These background checks have helped keep guns out of the hands of more than three million felons, convicted domestic abusers, and other dangerous individuals. However, despite the law, individuals who should be licensed dealers have refused to obtain a license, skirting the background check requirement.
 
Last year, Congress passed and President Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation to help address this dangerous problem by modifying the definition of who has to become a federally licensed firearms dealer. Members of Congress—both Democrats and Republicans—made clear that they intended for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to better protect the American people from gun violence by clarifying when someone is supposed to become a licensed firearms dealer.
 
New Action to Keep Guns Out of Dangerous Hands
 
Today, the Justice Department has announced a proposed rule to specify what exactly the new definition in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act means on the ground. If finalized, this proposed rule would mean the following for people who are not selling guns in order to make money: If you have a gun you no longer need, and you want to sell it to your family member, you do not need a license to sell it. If you buy and sell curios or relics or “collectible” personal firearms as a hobby, again, you do not need a license. But, if you are offering a firearm for sale to make money, and telling a customer that you can purchase and sell him additional firearms, you would presumptively need a license—and need to run background checks. The same is true if you repetitively offer for resale firearms within 30 days of when you purchased them. The proposed rule includes a number of other situations where, in civil and administrative proceedings and absent reliable evidence to the contrary, it will be presumed that you need a license.
 
Specifically, the proposed rule, if finalized, would clarify that an individual would be presumed to be “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms—and therefore be required to become a licensed firearms dealer and run background checks—if they meet certain conditions. For example, under the proposed rule, a person would be presumed to be required to become a licensed dealer and run background checks if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Offer for sale any number of firearms and also represents to potential buyers that they are willing and able to purchase and sell them additional firearms;
    • Repetitively offer for sale firearms within 30 days after they were purchased;
       
    • Repetitively offer for sale firearms that are like new in their original packaging;
       
    • Repetitively offer for sale multiple firearms of the same make and model; or
       
    • As a formerly federally-licensed firearms dealer, sell firearms that were in the business inventory and not transferred to a personal collection at least a year before the sale, addressing the so-called “fire sale loophole.”

 The proposed rule would also clarify that, for civil or administrative actions, an individual would be presumed to have the intent to “predominantly earn a profit”—one of the elements of engaging in the business of dealing firearms—if the person engages in activities such as:

  • Creating a website or making business cards to advertise or market a firearms business;
    • Maintaining records to document and track profits and losses from firearms purchases or sales; or 
  • Purchasing business insurance or renting space at a gun show.

The proposed rule would make clear that there is no “gun show loophole” or “internet loophole” in federal law. Dealers who engage in the business of selling guns are required to obtain a license and run background checks no matter where they engage in the business of buying and selling firearms. That include at gun shows and over the Internet.

The proposed rule is now open for public comment.  The Department of Justice will consider the comments it receives in deciding on a final rule.

Continuing to Call on Congress to Act
 
This rule is a significant step toward reducing the percentage of firearms sold for profit without background checks. It builds on previous Biden-Harris Administration actions to save lives and combat the epidemic of gun violence.
 
However, to fully address this problem, Congress must act. The President continues to call on Congress to enact universal background checks legislation, as well as other commonsense legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of guns, and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers. These are life-saving measures that the vast majority of Americans and gun owners support to protect our Country from the threat of gun violence.

“It is a false choice to suggest that we have to choose between either supporting the Second Amendment or passing reasonable gun safety laws – we can do both. All people in every community across our Nation have a right to be safe. This proposed regulation will help realize that goal and save lives,” Vice President Kamala Harris stated.
 
“But there is more to do. Congress must pass legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe gun storage, end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers, and require background checks on all gun sales—even those by gun dealers who are not registered. The President and I will not stop fighting to end this Nation’s epidemic of gun violence.”


Biden Administration, Gun Violence Prevention, News & Photo Features

Biden Announces 13 New Actions to Reduce Gun Violence by Maximizing the Benefits of Safer Communities Act

“Stop mass shootings,” March for Our Lives, New York City 2022. President Biden won the first gun control legislation in 30 years, the Safer Communities Act, and is now announcing 13 actions under the law to reduce gun violence and save lives. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Taking stock of the horror of gun violence that has taken too many mothers, too many children, and broken too many families, President Biden on Mothers Day (and the one-year anniversary of the Buffalo massacre at Topps Grocery and the Uvalde school massacre two weeks later) announced 13 actions the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act  (the first gun control law to pass in 30 years) and maximize the benefits of the law, reducing gun violence and saving lives by keeping guns out of dangerous hands. – Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

President Joe Biden announced 13 actions he is implementing under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to reduce gun violence and save lives by keeping guns out of dangerous hands. These include:

Keeping guns out of dangerous hands

The White House, in partnership with DOJ, will convene state and local law enforcement leaders to solicit their collaboration on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) implementation priorities, such as: 1) increasing state and local law enforcement agencies’ response rates to enhanced background check inquiries when someone under age 21 tries to purchase a gun; and 2) ensuring that arrest and adjudication records include additional documentation of dating relationships to keep more guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

The White House, in partnership with DOJ, will convene state legislators and governors’ offices, urging them to enact laws allowing the federal background check system to access all records that could prohibit someone under age 21 from purchasing a firearm.

DOJ is working with state and territory governments and local law enforcement agencies to increase their response rates to the federal background check system inquiries when someone under age 21 tries to purchase a gun. DOJ has held 18 webinars to date, attended by more than 500 law enforcement agencies, and has nine more planned.

DOJ is training federal law enforcement and educating state and local law enforcement and prosecutors on the need for additional documentation of dating relationships in domestic abuse cases in order to implement BSCA’s provision that narrowed the “boyfriend loophole,” helping to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

Ensuring BSCA’s mental health funding helps those dealing with the grief and trauma resulting from gun violence

The Secretaries of HHS and ED will urge governors to use BSCA and Medicaid’s funding to help schools address the trauma and mental health challenges resulting from gun violence.

HHS will educate health and social service providers, community leaders, and other individuals on the effects that gun violence trauma can have on communities.

HHS will clarify how early childhood providers can use BSCA funding to address mental health and gun violence trauma.

HHS will highlight stories of how communities are effectively using BSCA’s mental health funding to help those impacted by gun violence, in order to encourage other communities to adopt those strategies and effectively use BSCA’s resources.

HHS will meet with trauma program grantees and select community members and providers to gather community-level data pertaining to the link between exposure to gun violence and trauma. Lessons learned will inform HHS’ future program development, and a report HHS will make available to other communities.

As part of the school-based services Technical Assistance Center established under BSCA, HHS and ED will jointly develop resources for states and schools regarding how schools can use Medicaid to fund school-based health services to help students dealing with the physical and emotional impacts of gun violence.

Making schools safer

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will launch a dedicated public campaign to bring greater awareness to SchoolSafety.gov and its available resources and evidence-based practices. The campaign will be geared towards K-12 leaders, school administrators, teachers, school personnel, and parents and legal guardians.

ED has taken several steps to help states and school districts make effective use of BSCA’s $1 billion Stronger Connections Grant Program to improve school safety. For example, ED hosted a four-part webinar series that highlighted evidence-based practices for supporting student safety and well-being and published extensive Frequently Asked Questions to help states and school districts understand how they can effectively use this funding to ensure all schools are safe and welcoming to all students.

Expanding community violence interventions

To help communities maximize the benefits of BSCA’s community violence intervention funding, DOJ hosted a five-part webinar series to help local leaders use evidence-informed strategies to reduce violence.

Highlights of Progress Made to Implement BSCA

Keeping guns out of dangerous hands

DOJ has invested resources to investigate and prosecute violations of BSCA’s new provisions related to firearms trafficking and straw purchasing (purchasing a firearm for another person who is prohibited from buying the gun). DOJ is coordinating with non-DOJ federal law enforcement agencies to identify criminal investigations eligible for application of these criminal authorities. As a result, DOJ has already charged more than 60 defendants for violating these provisions and seized hundreds of firearms in connection with those cases. For example:

Multiple Men Indicted in Utah for Firearm Offenses, Including Allegedly Attempting to Smuggle 34 Guns into Mexico

Mexican Resident Sent to Prison for Trafficking Firearms Under New Law

Four Gun Traffickers Charged with Selling Over 50 Firearms in Brooklyn

Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Join Forces to Disrupt Violent Crime, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking in Multiple Jurisdictions Across the Country

Nine Men Charged with Roles in Gang-Led Drug and Gun Trafficking Network

Federal Firearms Licensee and Boston Man Indicted for Firearm Trafficking and Straw Purchasing Conspiracy

Two charged in scheme to illegally purchase firearms and transfer them to others

Federal Prosecutors Aggressively Pursuing Those Who Lie in Connection With Firearm Transactions

In part due to BSCA’s revised definition of who is “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms, DOJ’s prosecutions for unlicensed dealing increased 52% from FY 2021 to FY 2022. DOJ is on track to maintain this elevated level in FY 2023.

DOJ has implemented BSCA’s enhanced firearms background checks for individuals under the age of 21 in all 43 jurisdictions where the federal government processes background checks. Since November 2022, DOJ has conducted more than 89,000 of these checks and denied more than 160 firearms transactions solely because of BSCA. Out of the 13 states that process their own background checks, 10 states have fully implemented the enhanced background checks. DOJ is providing technical assistance in the remaining three states.

DOJ awarded over $230 million for state crisis intervention programs, including extreme risk protection orders (also known as red flag laws), to temporarily keep guns out of the hands of those who are a danger to themselves or others. This funding is supporting communities in 49 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

The federal gun background check system (the National Instant Criminal Background Check System) implemented BSCA’s updated definition of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, which now includes qualifying dating relationships to keep more guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

DOJ has provided multiple trainings for federal prosecutors and federal law-enforcement agents on a number of BSCA’s provisions, including the updated definition of “engaged in the business,” the new straw purchasing and firearms trafficking provisions, and the expanded definition of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence to include abusive dating partners.

Improving school safety

DOJ awarded almost $60 million in BSCA grants to support school safety. This funding will help institute safety measures in and around schools, support school violence prevention efforts, provide training to school personnel and students, implement evidence-based threat assessments, and fund research and evaluation on the causes and consequences of school violence.

ED awarded states nearly $1 billion from BSCA’s Stronger Connections grant program to support schools in providing students with safer and healthier learning environments and support students’ social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Per BSCA, states are tasked with developing competitions for high-need school districts to apply for funding, which they may use for purposes such as expanding school-based mental health services, addressing the physical security of schools, providing safety and violence prevention programs, and creating and implementing emergency operating plans. States are in the process of awarding these grants now.

ED awarded BSCA’s $50 million in funding for out-of-school time programs to use to increase attendance and engagement of students in the middle and high school grades.

Improving access to mental health care

HHS has already awarded nearly $400 million in BSCA funding to increase mental health services in the community, expand school-based mental health services, expand and strengthen the mental health workforce, and improve mental health crisis services. For example:

HHS awarded $60 million to help better equip primary care residents to provide behavioral health care. This funding is anticipated to support approximately 3,500 residents over five years.

HHS awarded $18 million to 49 states, jurisdictions, and Tribes to provide technical assistance and enhance the pediatric mental health care workforce’s capacity to make early identification, diagnosis, treatment and referral of behavioral conditions a routine part of children’s health care services; particularly in pediatric, emergency services and schools.

HHS awarded $59.4 million in supplemental Community Mental Health Block Grant funding to states, helping to expand access to prevention, treatment, and crisis services.

HHS awarded $57.7 million in Mental Health Awareness Training grants to prepare and train school personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement, and others to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and enable early intervention.

HHS awarded $19.5 million to National Child Traumatic Stress Network to improve treatment and services for children, adolescents, and families who have experienced traumatic events.

HHS awarded $73.6 million for Project Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (Project AWARE) to help develop and support school-based mental health programs and services. This program will promote the healthy social and emotional development of school-aged youth and prevent youth violence in school settings.

HHS awarded $20 million in Resiliency in Communities after Stress and Trauma grants to promote resilience and equity and prevent violence in communities that have recently faced civil unrest, community violence, and/or collective trauma.

With the help of BSCA, ED has awarded more than $280 million in funding to bolster the pipeline of mental health professionals serving in schools and expand school-based mental health services and supports in schools. Grantees project that these funds will put more than 14,000 new mental health professionals in U.S. schools – including school psychologists, counselors, and social workers.

Expanding community violence interventions

DOJ awarded $50 million in BSCA funding – combined with $50 million in bipartisan omnibus appropriations – through the federal government’s first-ever standalone community violence intervention grant program. Combined, this $100 million is helping 47 sites across 24 states and territories.

Biden Administration, Gun Violence Prevention, News & Photo Features

FACT SHEET: Biden Announces New Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Make Our Communities Safer

President Biden’s executive order to reduce gun violence directs the Attorney General to move the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation by clarifying, as appropriate, the statutory definition of who is “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms, as updated by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This move would mean fewer guns will be sold without background checks, and therefore fewer guns will end up in the hands of felons and domestic abusers. The President is also directing the Attorney General to develop and implement a plan to prevent former federally licensed firearms dealers, whose licenses have been revoked or surrendered, from continuing to engage in the business of dealing in firearms. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Today, in Monterey Park, California, President Biden announced an Executive Order with the goal of increasing the number of background checks conducted before firearm sales, moving the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation. The Executive Order will also keep more guns out of dangerous hands by increasing the effective use of “red flag” laws, strengthen efforts to hold the gun industry accountable, and accelerate law enforcement efforts to identify and apprehend the shooters menacing our communities. President Biden is also encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors.
 
President Biden traveled to Monterey Park to grieve with the families and community impacted by the mass shooting that claimed 11 lives and injured nine others in January. Monterey Park is part of a growing list of communities all across the country that are forever changed due to gun violence—not only mass shootings, but also daily acts of gun violence that may not make national headlines.
 
Last year, President Biden signed into the law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence reduction legislation enacted in nearly 30 years. When celebrating the Act’s passage, he called on Congress to seize the bipartisan momentum and advance additional commonsense steps to reduce gun violence. Again and again, he has called for Congress to act, including by banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, requiring background checks for all gun sales, requiring safe storage of firearms, closing the dating violence restraining order loophole, and repealing gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability.
 
As he continues to call on Congress to act, President Biden will do everything he can to reduce gun violence and save lives. That is why, over the past two years, President Biden has taken more executive action to reduce gun violence than any other president at this point in their presidency.
 
The President’s new Executive Order to reduce gun violence includes the following additional actions, all of which fall within existing executive authority and outside of the right protected by the Second Amendment:
 
Keeping guns out of dangerous hands
 
The Executive Order directs the President’s Cabinet to:

  • Increase the number of background checks by ensuring that all background checks required by law are conducted before firearm purchases, moving the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation. A large majority of Americans support background checks and agree it’s common sense to check whether someone is a felon or domestic abuser before allowing them to buy a gun. The President will continue to call on Congress to pass universal background check legislation. In the meantime, he is directing the Attorney General to do everything he can to ensure that firearms sellers who do not realize they are required to run background checks under existing law, or who are willfully violating existing law, become compliant with background check requirements. Specifically, the President is directing the Attorney General to move the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation by clarifying, as appropriate, the statutory definition of who is “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms, as updated by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This move would mean fewer guns will be sold without background checks, and therefore fewer guns will end up in the hands of felons and domestic abusers. The President is also directing the Attorney General to develop and implement a plan to prevent former federally licensed firearms dealers, whose licenses have been revoked or surrendered, from continuing to engage in the business of dealing in firearms.
     
  • Improve public awareness and increase appropriate use of extreme risk protection (“red flag”) orders and safe storage of firearms. 19 states and the District of Columbia have enacted red flag laws, allowing trusted community members to petition a court to determine whether an individual is dangerous, and then to temporarily remove an individual’s access to firearms. However, these laws are only effective if the public knows when and how to use red flag orders. President Biden is directing members of his Cabinet to encourage effective use of extreme risk protection orders, including by partnering with law enforcement, health care providers, educators, and other community leaders. In addition, President Biden is directing members of his Cabinet to expand existing federal campaigns and other efforts to promote safe storage of firearms.
     
  • Address the loss or theft of firearms during shipping. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) data indicates an over 250% increase in the number of firearms reported as lost or stolen during shipment between federally licensed firearms dealers, from roughly 1,700 in 2018 to more than 6,100 in 2022. President Biden is directing the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Justice, to work to reduce the loss or theft of firearms during shipment and to improve reporting of such losses or thefts, including by engaging with carriers and shippers.

 
Holding the gun industry accountable
 
The Executive Order directs the President’s Cabinet to:

  • Provide the public and policymakers with more information regarding federally licensed firearms dealers who are violating the law. Gun dealers violating federal law put us all at risk by increasing the likelihood that firearms will fall into dangerous hands. The President is directing the Attorney General to publicly release, to the fullest extent permissible by law, ATF records from the inspection of firearms dealers cited for violation of federal firearm laws. This information will empower the public and policymakers to better understand the problem, and then improve our laws to hold rogue gun dealers accountable.
     
  • Use the Department of Defense’s acquisition of firearms to further firearm and public safety practices. The Department of Defense buys a large number of firearms and other weapons to protect and serve our country. The President is directing the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement principles to further firearm and public safety practices through Department of Defense acquisition of firearms, consistent with applicable law.

 
President Biden is also encouraging the independent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors and how such manufacturers market firearms to all civilians, including through the use of military imagery.
 
Additional steps to make our communities safer and support communities impacted by gun violence
 
The Executive Order will direct the President’s Cabinet to:

  • Help catch shooters by accelerating federal law enforcement’s reporting of ballistics data. The National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) allows federal, state, and local law enforcement to match fired cartridge casings to the guns from which they were fired, making it easier for law enforcement to connect multiple crime scenes and catch shooters. In order to maximize NIBIN’s effectiveness, federal, state, and local law enforcement all have an important role to play in ensuring timely submission of ballistics data to NIBIN. Today, the President is directing all federal law enforcement agencies to issue rigorous requirements regarding NIBIN data submission and use of this tool.
     
  • Accelerate and intensify implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). BSCA is the most significant gun safety legislative accomplishment in nearly 30 years, and the Biden-Harris Administration is treating it as such by making the most of every opportunity it provides to reduce gun violence. President Biden is directing each agency responsible for the law’s implementation to send a report to him, within 60 days, on progress toward full implementation of BSCA and additional steps they will take to maximize the benefits of the law, including by increasing public awareness and use of the resources made available by BSCA.
     
  • Improve federal support for gun violence survivors, victims and survivors’ families, first responders to gun violence, and communities affected by gun violence. When a hurricane overwhelms a community, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinates federal, state, local, and non-profit organizations in order to assess and meet community needs. However, when a mass shooting overwhelms a community, no coordinated U.S. government mechanism exists to meet short- and long-term needs, such as mental health care for grief and trauma, financial assistance (for example, when a family loses the sole breadwinner or when a small business is shut down due to a lengthy shooting investigation), and food (for example, when the Buffalo shooting closed down the only grocery store in the neighborhood). The President is directing members of his Cabinet to develop a proposal for how the federal government can better support communities after a mass shooting, and identify what additional resources or authorities the executive branch would need from Congress to implement this proposal.
     
  • Advance congressional efforts to prevent the proliferation of firearms undetectable by metal detectors. In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of technology that allows guns to be made with polymers and other materials that are increasingly capable of avoiding detection by metal detectors. President Biden is directing the Attorney General to help Congress modernize and make permanent the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988, which is currently set to expire in December 2023.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, who had to rejigger 100-year old gun regulation law after the radical rightwing majority on the Supreme Court overturned the law, commented, “Too many families in this country have experienced loss due to gun violence. Too many communities, including my hometown of Buffalo, have been devastated by weapons of war. We have a moral obligation to act — and that’s why New York strengthened our nation-leading gun safety laws, expanding the use of red flag laws to prevent domestic abusers and other dangerous individuals from causing harm to themselves or others.

“President Biden’s new Executive Order brings New York’s approach to a national scale. The Executive Order strengthens rules around individuals with a “red flag” by requiring federally licensed gun dealers to check if an individual is a domestic abuser or convicted felon. It increases federal resources for proven crime-fighting tools, like the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network we are utilizing in Crime Analysis Centers across New York. This EO builds on the major success last year, when President Biden worked closely with Leader Schumer and bipartisan members of Congress to pass the first new gun safety legislation in a generation. This Executive Order is the significant next step our country needed.”