The White House published the new ‘Safer States Initiative’ on Wednesday, aiming to curb violence involving guns.
Vice President Kamala Harris has announced a new gun control initiative, including a state-level ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, which the White House says is aimed at helping curb violence involving guns.
The White House published the new “Safer States Initiative,” which officials said will “provide states with additional tools and the support they need to reduce gun violence and save lives,” in a Dec. 13 press release.
As part of the initiative, the White House is calling for states to take a number of “key actions,” including establishing their own state offices for preventing violence involving guns, strengthening support for survivors and victims of violence involving guns, and investing in “evidence-informed solutions” to prevent and respond to such violence.
That includes rolling out community violence interventions, establishing Crime Gun Intelligence Centers, and implementing extreme risk protection orders, among others.
President Joe Biden established the first ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which is overseen by Ms. Harris, in September 2023.
Under the new initiative, the administration is also asking states to reinforce responsible gun ownership, including by requiring safe storage of firearms and that lost and stolen firearms be reported, according to a White House fact sheet.
The Department of Justice’s newly published model legislation detailing how states can require the safe storage of firearms, including in vehicles, will help aid states in crafting requirements for safe gun storage, the White House said.
Assault Weapons Ban
It will also help provide states with a framework for requiring that a person promptly report the loss or theft to law enforcement.
Additionally, President Biden’s administration is asking states to strengthen gun background checks, including by enacting universal background checks legislation and “removing barriers” to completing enhanced background checks.
Finally, the president and vice president want states to “hold 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.”
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