Biden to Unveil Firearms-Related Executive Actions

President Biden will be issuing executive orders his administration argues is meant to limit gun violence. Opponents to the actions suggest it will not make much difference and criticize the language used by Democrats and gun control advocates.

Summary

President Joe Biden is expected to take a series of executive actions related to firearms Thursday as well as announce a nominee for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

• Regulations are expected on so-called “ghost guns” and “stabilizing braces” as well as a “model red flag law” for states to use in writing laws allowing “local law enforcement to remove guns from people deemed a risk to communities.”
• Gun control groups are praising the move, saying the Biden administration is finally prioritizing gun restrictions as an agenda item.
• Firearms rights organizations say they will carefully review the edicts and will fight any of Biden’s proposals that “exceed his lawful authority and usurp the power of Congress.”
• The Hill reports “none of the actions will single-handedly reclassify firearms or restrict access to guns.”

• While hailing Biden for taking action on guns, CNN complained that the proposals “fall far short of the ambitious goals” he touted on the campaign trail last year.
• The New York Times highlighted criticism of Biden by gun control groups while blaming the filibuster for lack of congressional action on second amendment restrictions.
• Huffington Post used the nonsense term “weapons of war” describing firearms that are not typically used in combat (for instance, “assault rifle” allows for fully-automatic fire, something generally illegal for civilians to have), while suggesting the National Rifle Association’s bankruptcy court case will prevent it from “pressuring” congressional Republicans to stop gun legislation.

• Townhall.com’s Katie Pavlich zeroed in on Biden’s pick to lead the ATF, David Chipman, noting his lobbying work for anti-second amendment groups.
• Efforts by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey that prevent state and local law enforcement from enforcing new federal gun laws led Newsmax’s coverage.
• The Daily Wire derided the definitions and language used by the Biden administration, saying the terms being used don’t “really mean anything legally speaking” while saying the administration is also admitting “cities across the country, which are largely run by Democrats, are seeing a historic spike in homicides”.

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© Dallas Gerber, 2021