A new executive order by President Biden tightens background check laws and increases support for extreme risk protection orders to keep firearms out of the hands of those who are a danger to themselves or others, along with efforts to hold the gun industry accountable and address the marketing of firearms to minors

CONCORD, NH – Yesterday, in Monterey Park, California, President Biden announced an Executive Order with the goal of increasing the number of background checks conducted before firearm sales, moving the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation. The Executive Order also seeks to keep more guns out of dangerous hands by increasing the effective use of extreme risk protection orders or “red flag” laws, strengthen efforts to hold the gun industry accountable, and accelerate law enforcement efforts to identify and apprehend the shooters harming our communities. President Biden is also encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors. 

Read more details on this Executive Order here.

Members of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition released the following statements:

Zandra Rice Hawkins, director of GunSense NH, a project of Granite State Progress, and a member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition: “Every day our communities deal with gun violence, and each of us needs to do our part to improve public safety by keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, promoting responsible gun ownership, holding the gun industry accountable, and keeping high capacity weapons off our streets and out of our schools. We applaud President Biden for taking decisive action to reduce gun violence in our country, and we call on Congress and our state leaders to do their part to address the epidemic of gun violence that continues to harm our communities and our futures.”

State Representative Amy Bradley, prime sponsor of HB 106, relative to extreme risk protection orders and a member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition: “Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) are a bipartisan policy that temporarily removes firearms from those with a dangerous pattern of behavior and access to firearms, before they can pose a danger to themselves or others. It is a smart proactive policy that saves lives, particularly for those at risk of suicide. We applaud President Biden’s efforts to encourage awareness of ERPO laws, especially given how effective they have been.”

State Representative David Meuse, prime sponsor of HB 351, relative to negligent storage of firearms and a member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition: “Safe storage bills are supported by responsible, law abiding gun owners. They offer additional protection for children and save gun owners from the horror, and the liability, that is a risk whenever an unsecured firearm falls into the hands of a child. President Biden’s actions for gun safety today will prevent tragic deaths tomorrow.”

State Senator Debra Altschiller, prime sponsor of SB 247, relative to blanket immunity for gun manufacturers and a member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition: “For far too long, the gun industry has received blanket immunity to continue practices that harm our families and our communities. No other industry with such a record of harm has been allowed to exact fear and death in our country without accountability. President Biden’s efforts to hold gun manufacturers accountable for marketing to children and other harmful practices is an important step towards ensuring the gun industry takes responsibility for their role in reducing gun violence.”

Deidre Reynolds, Moms Demand Action member and member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition: “Requiring background checks whenever a person purchases a firearm is a foundational life-saving gun safety measure that can reduce gun violence and save lives. We applaud President Biden for prioritizing the safety of our communities and we look forward to working with the Administration, our local lawmakers, and fellow gun safety champions to ensure that this common-sense gun safety law is being fully and effectively implemented throughout our state.”  

Heidi Carrington Heath, Executive Director of NH Council of Churches and a member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition: “Gun violence is not just a policy issue, it is a moral, ethical and a theological issue as well. Our societies are only as strong as we care for our children, and when our children leave home and parents have to worry on a daily basis that they will be gunned down and not return home, something is very wrong. The executive order by President Biden provides an opportunity for safer communities, so that families can live and grow together.”

Tracy Hahn-Burkett, member of the Kent Street Coalition Leadership Team and a member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition: “Parents and grandparents are tired of fearing for their children’s lives when they drop their kids off at school. People are tired of fearing for their lives in grocery stores, at concerts — anywhere in public. In a country where gun violence has become the leading cause of death for youth, the common-sense steps of background checks, extreme risk protection orders and accountability measures are critical to ensure the safety of the American public, and we applaud the Administration for taking these steps.”

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The NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition has worked together for the last decade to protect and advance common sense public safety laws. Members include gun violence prevention advocates, moms, medical professionals, gun owners, veterans, law enforcement, elected officials, school administrators, educators, students, and faith leaders, and organizations representing various constituencies.  The coalition is convened by GunSense NH, a project of Granite State Progress.