President Joe Biden introduced the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a new governmental office put in order to deal with gun violence related issues, on Friday, Sept. 22.
This new office will implement both executive and legislative action to end gun violence in the United States, according to a website from the White House. The office will be overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris and have team members in the White House working to resolve gun violence issues in America.
He said he will urge Congress to take action such as enacting universal background checks and banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, according to the same website
“But in the absence of that sorely-needed action, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention along with the rest of my administration will continue to do everything it can to combat the epidemic of gun violence that is tearing our families, our communities, and our country apart,” Biden said in a statement, according to the same website from the White House.
Biden said he is also calling to Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, requiring safe storage of firearms and eliminating gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, according to the same source.
Another plan is enacting Biden’s Safer America Plan, which would put more police officers on our streets for accountable, community policing and invest in gun violence prevention and intervention, according to the official Gifford’s website, an organization “dedicated to saving lives from gun violence.”
Rehan Rafeek, engineering management graduate and international student, said he was pleased to hear about his decision.
Rafeek said the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention is a positive effort to combat the United State’s current problems with gun violence.
“It’s reassuring to know that the formation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention inspires hope for a reduction in gun violence in some capacity,” Rafeek said. “It’s always heartening to see responsibilities being taken to address an issue that has had a tremendous impact on the citizens of the United States.”
He said he believes more policies should be implemented to reduce illegally possessed firearms, and gun purchases should only be promoted for individuals with licenses obtained through prior training and classes.
“I don’t perceive any downsides to this office, but I sincerely hope that it is not merely a strategy that democrats have adopted to win elections, and that they will follow through on their commitments,” Rafeek said.
Political science lecturer Marci Harris said she is the executive director of the nonprofit POPVOX Foundation, where she works closely with Congress on a variety of issues.
According to the official POPVOX Foundation’s website, the foundation works with governments to address the challenges presented by the people and support government capacity that helps attract and retain personnel from diverse backgrounds.
“(The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention) is largely a symbolic gesture, but shows that the President is dedicating resources to the issue,” Harris said. “Ultimately, to change policy, Congress has to take action. However, this office will provide a dedicated place within the White House for staff to focus on the issues and potentially find things that the federal agencies can do without Congressional action.”
The Biden-Harris administration has worked to implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and announced dozens of executive actions,” according to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education website.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is “already saving lives,” by investing in community violence interventions, improving access to mental health services in schools who have trauma or grief due to gun violence. The Justice Department will prosecute firearm traffickers and prohibit an individual younger than 21 from purchasing a firearm, according to the Office of Elementary and Secondary website.
The Biden-Harris administration have announced executive actions to keep dangerous weapons and repetitive shooters off of streets, and address the root causes of gun violence. Gun dealers and traffickers will be held accountable and law enforcement will be provided with tools and resources needed to reduce gun violence, according to the same website from the White House.
Computational math senior James Altizer said President Biden has taken action on gun safety to a positive effect, but feels a dedicated office may be not beneficial for the United State’s government system.
“The office will not affect me personally, however, I do not think it will lead to massive improvements,” Altizer said.
He said he is pro-gun because he said he feels that minorities and women need a way to protect themselves, and that guns have historically deterred serious crimes in the past.
“I also think that guns from a cultural standpoint are way too dominant in American culture and that gun violence is due to the proliferation of guns,” Altizer said.
