Biden Announces Six Gun Control Executive Actions

The Biden administration announced six “initial actions” on Thursday to address gun violence in America following mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado. The actions include requiring background checks for “ghost guns,” untraceable guns made from parts bought online; categorizing pistols with arm brace modifications—like the one allegedly used in the Boulder shooting—as “rifles” under the National Firearms Act; publishing model “red flag” legislation for states; investing in “evidence-based community violence interventions”; directing the Justice Department to issue an annual firearms trafficking report; and nominating David Chipman, a gun control advocate, to serve as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This story received mostly similar coverage from across the spectrum, with most coverage describing the actions as relatively moderate compared to other gun control proposals. Some coverage in right-rated outlets portrayed the actions as more extreme, focusing on issues like the popular “AR-15-style” pistols facing greater regulation.