Everytown Statement on Ambassador Susan Rice’s Tenure as White House Domestic Policy Advisor

WASHINGTON — Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements as Ambassador Susan Rice announced that she would step down as President Joe Biden’s Domestic Policy Advisor in May. The White House Domestic Policy Council has been crucial to the historic gun violence prevention achievements under the Biden-Harris Administration. 

 “As an expert on national security, it’s no surprise that Ambassador Rice has long been a forceful advocate for common-sense solutions to one of America’s most pressing threats: gun violence,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Ambassador Rice has played a key role in establishing the Biden-Harris Administration as the strongest gun sense White House in history, spearheading multiple executive actions and leading the implementation of last summer’s landmark gun safety law. Everytown looks forward to partnering with Ambassador Rice in the years to come.” 

“This has been the strongest Administration on gun safety in history and it’s thanks in large part to the steadfast leadership of Ambassador Rice,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “The grassroots gun violence prevention movement is stronger than it’s ever been and we’re excited to continue working with Ambassador Rice to protect our communities for years to come.” 

In 2021, Ambassador Rice accepted the Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year award on behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration and gave the keynote address before Gun Sense University, an annual training summit attended by more than 2,000 Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers and gun violence survivors. 

This continues to be the strongest gun safety administration in history, as evidenced by President Biden’s signing and implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, confirmation of an ATF director for the first time in seven years, historic executive actions to address gun violence, his long record of taking on the NRA and passing life-saving laws, Vice President Kamala Harris’ years of gun safety advocacy, and the unmatched gun sense cabinet they have built. President Biden has prioritized gun safety since entering office, from combating deadly, untraceable ghost guns and helping close the background check loophole, to finalization of the stabilizing arm brace rule, to the comprehensive strategy to address gun violence that includes efforts to fight gun trafficking, investments in community violence intervention programs, and more.

Everytown, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action continue to work with the gun safety majority in the Senate, gun sense champions in the House, and the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure robust implementation and strong enforcement of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and our gun laws as a whole.