President Joe Biden to unveil gun control measures, appoint ATF chief - UPI.com
I never heard of "ghost guns" before.
Apparently ghost guns are sold in parts, where criminals can buy these kits and put them together in less than 30 minutes.
The new ATF chief is a former Federal agent and gun control advocate.
April 8 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden plans to unveil several executive actions on Thursday aimed at curbing gun violence, including measures on unregistered firearms that can be assembled from parts, commonly referred to as "ghost guns."
The new directives come in the aftermath of mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colo., that killed 18 people.
I never heard of "ghost guns" before.
"Gun violence takes lives and leaves a lasting legacy of trauma in communities every single day in this country, even when it is not on the nightly news. In fact, cities across the country are in the midst of a historic spike in homicides, violence that disproportionately impacts Black and brown Americans," the White House said in a statement.
Apparently ghost guns are sold in parts, where criminals can buy these kits and put them together in less than 30 minutes.
In one executive order, Biden will ask the Justice Department, within 30 days, to issue a proposed rule to help stop the proliferation of "ghost guns." These weapons often don't have a serial number and can't be traced by law enforcement.
"We are experiencing a growing problem: Criminals are buying kits containing nearly all of the components and directions for finishing a firearm within as little as 30 minutes and using these firearms to commit crimes," the White House said.
Biden also will ask the Justice Department to develop within 60 days "red flag" laws that states can adopt. The measures would allow family members to petition courts to take firearms from people who are deemed a threat. Several states have red flag laws, including Colorado.
The new ATF chief is a former Federal agent and gun control advocate.
Biden will also nominate David Chipman as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Thursday.
Chipman is a former federal agent, gun control advocate and adviser for the gun control advocacy group named for former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a 2011 shooting.
Other measures to be announced Thursday include:
- The Justice Department, within 60 days, will clarify regulations to ensure that pistols fitted with stabilizing braces, which essentially transform them into rifles, will be regulated under the National Firearms Act. These pistols do not fall under U.S. gun laws that regulate rifles. The alleged shooter in the Boulder tragedy last month appears to have used a pistol with an arm brace, which can make a firearm more stable and accurate while still being concealable.
- Biden will ask various agencies to direct more resources to community violence prevention measures. The White House said community violence interventions are proven strategies for reducing gun violence in urban communities through tools other than incarceration.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is organizing a webinar and toolkit to educate states on how they can use Medicaid to reimburse certain community violence intervention programs. The American Jobs Plan proposes a $5 billion investment over eight years to support community violence intervention programs.
- The Justice Department will issue a new report on firearms trafficking and annual updates to give lawmakers information to help address firearms trafficking. In 2000, the ATF issued a report on its investigations into firearms trafficking, which is one way firearms are diverted into the illegal market where they can end up in the hands of dangerous individuals.