Background Checks Prevented Thousands of Gun Sales to Youth and Domestic Abusers, White House Reports

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON – The White House announced on Sunday that enhanced background checks have successfully prevented thousands of gun sales to individuals under 21 and those with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions in the past year. This announcement comes one year after President Joe Biden established a new office dedicated to combating gun violence.

According to the White House, homicides have decreased by 17% during this period, building on a substantial decline in homicides recorded in 2023. Additionally, data from the Gun Violence Archive indicated a 20% drop in mass shootings so far in 2024 compared to the previous year, suggesting this could be the lowest annual figure for such incidents since 2019.

Under Biden’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed into law in June 2022, the FBI has conducted over 300,000 enhanced background checks for individuals under the age of 21. More than 3,500 transactions were denied, with nearly 900 sales blocked solely due to these enhanced checks. Furthermore, checks related to domestic violence convictions have prevented over 4,600 gun sales this year.

Stefanie Feldman, the head of the new office, attributed this progress to a variety of initiatives, including numerous executive actions taken since Biden’s inauguration, enhanced collaboration among federal agencies, partnerships with state and local governments, and increased funding for the enforcement of existing laws and mental health programs.

Feldman indicated that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic nominee in the upcoming presidential election, will soon announce additional executive actions. While she did not disclose specifics, she mentioned that these actions will introduce “wholly new ideas” and will require significant effort to implement before Biden’s term concludes in January.

Gun safety has been a significant focus for both Biden and Harris since they assumed office in 2021. Earlier in June, the U.S. surgeon general labeled gun violence a public health crisis, advocating for more funding for research, better access to mental health services, and promoting safe storage practices.

While Democrats generally support stricter gun laws to curb gun violence, Republicans often resist such measures, citing the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. Nonetheless, Feldman noted that her office has effectively collaborated with Republican officials at state and local levels, leading to the passage of gun violence-related legislation in 17 states.

The office is also engaging with various non-elected officials, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community leaders, regardless of their political affiliations, who share a commitment to reducing gun violence.

“The further away you get from Washington, the less political this issue actually is,” Feldman stated. “Everyone wants their child to come home from school safely. Everyone wants their child to be able to play in the neighborhood and feel secure.”