As fears of gun violence continue to rise, President Biden is drafting another executive order on guns. According to Fox News, the order will specifically target illegal firearms modifications and non-serialized 3D printed guns while also creating a task force that will investigate new firearms tech.
A senior administration official, briefing reporters Tuesday morning, also said that the executive order would prioritize work to strengthen school-based active shooter drills to get students better prepared for an emergency.
The move comes after a deadly mass killing in Birmingham, Alabama on September 21st that killed four people and wounded 17 others. It also coincides with former President Trump surviving two assassination attempts in a matter of months.
The White House has cited growing concern over the speed of firearm technology development, with Biden’s order targeting two key new threats: machine gun conversion kits and 3D-printed guns.
Conversion devices that can take a normal semi-automatic pistol and turn it into a fully automatic firearm are already banned federally, but the senior official said they are still showing up in crimes and are being found at nationwide law enforcement recoveries.
3D-printed firearms, another problem that is rapidly increasing, could be made from publicly available online blueprints. Because they do not have a serial number, this can challenge law enforcement in tracking them. In addition to that, these guns are made from materials not detected by metal security magnetometers in places like airports and courthouses.
The task force will be called an “Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force,” and its leadership will come from a number of federal departments and agencies. The task force will need to deliver a report within 90 days that evaluates the threat from machine gun kits meant for conversion and weapons made using 3D printing.
The report on body armor will also examine how well federal agencies can detect, track and confiscate these guns and related parts.
The order will also instruct key agency officials, including the secretaries of Education and Homeland Security, the attorney general, the secretary of Health and Human Services and the U.S Surgeon General to update guidance for school emergency plans within 90 days.
The executive action highlights Biden’s pledge to stem gun violence and tackle the changing landscape of firearm technologies.
