Biden’s Order Aims to Curb 3D-Printed Guns and Enhance Active Shooter Drills in Schools, Reports Reuters

By Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced a new executive order aimed at addressing the rising threats from 3D-printed and converted firearms while enhancing active shooter drills in schools.

Biden signed the order during a White House event, which establishes a federal task force to evaluate the risks associated with machine gun conversion devices. He highlighted that these devices can be 3D-printed for under 40 cents in just 30 minutes, and noted that certain 3D-printed firearms evade security detection and lack serial numbers, complicating traceability.

The President referenced a recent mass shooting in Alabama that resulted in four fatalities, which involved a gun conversion device that allows handguns or semi-automatic firearms to achieve firing rates comparable to military machine guns.

"Enough," Biden declared to a gathering of over 100 survivors of gun violence, including former Representative Gabby Giffords and families of victims. He reaffirmed his commitment to combat gun violence, regardless of his future political status.

Vice President Harris echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that more children are now dying from gun-related incidents than from any other causes, including car accidents and cancer. "I believe the right to be safe is a civil right," she stated, garnering enthusiastic support, and underscoring the widespread trauma inflicted by gun violence on individuals and communities.

The executive order also instructs federal agencies to prepare and release within 110 days resources for schools, colleges, and universities on effectively conducting active shooter drills. Although many states require these drills, studies have shown that they may be ineffective and traumatic for students.

This initiative marked Biden’s first gun-related event with Harris since her appointment to oversee the office devoted to gun violence prevention established a year prior.

Recent data indicates a 17% decline in homicides since the establishment of this office, building upon unprecedented drops in homicide rates earlier in 2023. Additionally, mass shootings have decreased by 20% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

In the context of the upcoming elections, Harris has emerged as the Democratic presidential candidate, facing off against former President Donald Trump, who remains a strong challenger in key states according to polling data.

While Democrats generally advocate for stricter gun laws as a means to combat gun violence, Republicans typically oppose such measures, citing Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms.

In light of a recent assassination attempt on Trump, an advisor noted that he will continue to champion gun rights.

PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

This executive order is part of a broader strategy initiated by Biden and Harris—as both are gun owners—to mitigate gun violence since assuming office in 2021. Biden previously enacted significant gun legislation in July 2022 aimed at restricting gun sales to individuals with domestic abuse histories.

The U.S. surgeon general recently classified gun violence as a public health crisis, recommending increased funding for research, improved access to mental health services, and measures for secure firearm storage.

Although machine gun conversion devices are illegal, they are reportedly appearing at crime scenes due to their compact size, low cost, and ease of installation.

Biden stated that the order would also allocate new resources to communities grappling with gun violence. "We have to keep going. There’s so much more that we have to do," Biden remarked, reflecting on his longstanding commitment to fighting gun violence since his initial election to the Senate in the 1970s.