Everytown Applauds Administration’s New ‘Safer States Agenda’ to Provide Federal Support for States to Pass Gun Safety Laws

WASHINGTON — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund released the following statements after the Biden-Harris Administration announced new plans and two executive actions to provide federal support to state legislatures to pass stronger gun safety laws:

“Gun violence is a nationwide problem that requires a nationwide solution — which means federal and state working hand-in-hand to keep guns away from people who have no business being armed,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “From Day One, the Biden-Harris Administration has been walking the walk on gun safety, and we urge state lawmakers to follow the path the White House is blazing.”

“The Biden-Harris Administration is the strongest gun safety administration in history and their latest plans to reduce gun violence are further proof that they’re using every tool at their disposal to save lives,” said Monisha Henley, SVP of Government Affairs at Everytown. “State lawmakers play a key role in keeping their communities safe from gun violence, and providing state legislatures the tools and federal support to pass stronger gun safety laws will keep deadly weapons off of our streets.”

The Safer States Agenda will provide states with the federal support, tools, and guidance to implement effective, life-saving policies to keep communities safe. This agenda for making meaningful progress at the state level to reduce gun violence includes: 

• Establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within state government to coordinate resources and ensure effective implementation
• Investing in and implementing evidence-based strategies like community violence intervention programs, law enforcement initiatives to hold shooters and gun traffickers accountable, and Extreme Risk Protection Orders, known as Red Flag laws
• Strengthening support for victims and survivors of gun violence 
• Implementing policies to promote responsible gun ownership, including secure storage and disarming domestic abusers
• Expanding background checks and strengthening our background check system by removing barriers in the enhanced background checks process for purchasers  under the age of 21
• Ensuring accountability for the gun industry, including enacting state firearm-specific liability laws similar to policies implemented by California, Delaware and Illinois

More information on the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention’s Safer States Agenda can be found here.