Gun Control Groups Press Biden on Executive Actions, Details on Stricter Firearms Legislation

President Joe Biden speaks during an event on gun control in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on April 8, 2021. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Gun control groups have called on President Joe Biden to announce a comprehensive plan to prevent “gun violence” at his State of the Union address on Feb. 7.

This comes as the White House and the Democrats have faced a series of court losses and challenges after pushback from Second Amendment rights advocates.

“While Congress must continue to prioritize gun violence prevention, you have the opportunity to act boldly by announcing a comprehensive plan of action to reduce gun deaths at the State of the Union,” the groups wrote in a letter to Biden under “#THETIMEISNOW” Coalition.

The coalition is made up of 117 left-wing organizations that have called for a national emergency declaration to stop gun violence and the establishment of a federal office for gun violence prevention.

They also call for the permanent appointment of a director to run that office “to streamline the federal, state, and local government’s efforts to save lives.”

A rally on Capitol Hill in Washington calling for stricter gun controls on July 13, 2022. Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images

Among the coalition that signed the letter are Brady, Gun Violence Prevention PAC, American Federation of Teachers, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, MomsRising, and Newtown Action Network.

“Unfortunately, gun deaths and injuries continue to ravage our country, impacting Asian American, Black and Brown communities, and neighborhoods all across the country,” the letter said.

The signers also called for a series of executive actions, such as the full enforcement of the ban on the importation of foreign-made assault weapons with no “sporting purpose” and immediate instructions to the Federal Trade Commission to “fully enforce regulations that prohibit unfair or deceptive practices related to the advertising of firearms to minors.”

In addition to the gun safety legislation that was passed by the Democrat-controlled Congress last year, they also seeking additional funding to be directed towards “communities most impacted by violence” and increased training for federal investigators to properly conduct background checks on gun buyers under age 21.

The coalition wants more government resources  to address the so-called “background check loophole” by identifying those “engaged in the business” of selling firearms and using the new firearms trafficking law against “the largest sources of crime guns.”

They made a further request that Biden calls on Congress to commit $5 billion in funding for community violence intervention programs and that he directly communicate the scope of the “gun crisis” to the American people by developing public campaigns that focus on the risks of keeping firearms in the home.

However, the White House is unlikely to acquire any additional funding or votes for future gun control measures due to the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

The organizers have suggested that Biden use his executive powers to sidestep the House and make promises to enact mandates and regulations to fulfill their demands when he addresses Congress.

“The growing gun violence crisis and the stated intention of the new leadership in the House of Representatives to block life-saving legislation demands a higher level of leadership from your White House. We urge you to lay out a concrete plan of action for saving lives at the State of the Union,” they concluded.

Biden continues to renew his call for Congress to pass legislation banning assault weapons following two mass shootings in California in January.

Meanwhile, a conservative law firm challenged new federal regulations banning guns with stabilizing braces at a court in Texas on Jan. 31.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three veterans by the Institute for Law and Liberty to block the gun-brace restrictions by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.