The President is committed to using every tool at the Administration’s disposal to reduce gun violence. Unfortunately, many of the gaps in our country’s gun laws can only be fixed through legislation. That is why it is important for us to call, write, and email our legislators to demand that they take action to keep our families and communities safe!
1. Keep guns out of the wrong hands through background checks.
The President is closing the “gun show loophole” by clarifying current law — that it doesn’t matter where you conduct your business — from a store, at a gun show, or over the internet. If you are in the business of selling firearms, you must get a license and conduct background checks.
Data shows that approximately 40% of guns in America are sold without a background check.
At the same time, the FBI is overhauling the background check system to make it more effective and efficient. The improvements include processing background checks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and includes improving notification of local authorities when certain prohibited persons unlawfully attempt to buy a gun. The FBI will hire more than 230 additional examiners and other staff to help process background checks!
This should make gun enthusiasts and the NRA happy but don’t wait for a thank you. A constant complaint is that law-abiding citizens should not be inconvenienced and that we should just enforce laws already on the books. This Executive Order does both by making background checks more convenient and by clarifying and enforcing the sales laws already on the books. It also levels the playing field for those gun sellers that are already complying.
2. Make our communities safer from gun violence.
The Administration’s budget will include funding for 200 new ATF agents and investigators to help enforce CURRENT GUN LAWS! Also this order helps establish an Internet Investigation Center to track illegal online firearms trafficking. There is also a focus on domestic violence outreach efforts and a rule to require that dealers who ship firearms notify law enforcement if their guns are lost or stolen in transit.
Once again, enforcing gun laws currently in place and a renewed focus on domestic violence outreach. So why are gun enthusiasts and members of Congress calling foul?
3. Increase mental health treatment and reporting to the background check system.
The Administration is proposing a new $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care! And with suicide rising in older white males, the Social Security Administration has indicated that it will begin the rulemaking process to include information in the background check system about Social Security beneficiaries who are prohibited from possessing a firearm for mental health reasons.
This should please the NRA and its members who always say that gun violence is a mental health issue.
4. Shape the future of gun safety technology.
The President has directed the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology and has also directed the departments to review the availability of smart gun technology on a regular basis.
The potential for new and different guns should be exciting!
These Presidential efforts will take resources that only Congress can provide by including in the budget the funding of additional agents and investigators as well as funding for increased mental health resources.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!
Call, write, email your representative to let them know that you support the President’s Executive Orders and that you expect them to as well… with words and with funding! Find your Representative »