Progress in gun safety leads to decline in homicides, mass shootings: White House

The White House announced on Sunday that it had strengthened background check prevented thousands arms sales for persons under 21 years of age and persons convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence crimes over the past year. The update comes a year after President Joe Biden created a special office to accelerate efforts to prevent gun violence.
According to the White House, homicides fell 17 percent over the past year, continuing a historic decline set in 2023. Data from the Gun Violence Archive also indicates a 20 percent reduction in mass shootings in 2024, with projections suggesting that will be the lowest level since 2019.
Under Biden’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law in June 2022, the FBI conducted more than 300,000 enhanced background checks on people under the age of 21. Those checks led to the blocking of more than 3,500 transactions, nearly 900 of which were rejected because of the enhanced background check process. Additionally, more than 4,600 gun sales to people convicted of domestic violence offenses have been blocked this year.
Stefanie Feldman, head of the newly created Office of Gun Violence Prevention, attributes the progress to a number of factors, including executive actions since Biden took office, increased cooperation among federal agencies and increased funding for law enforcement and mental health programs.
Feldman noted that President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris plan to announce new executive orders soon, which she described as including “brand new ideas” aimed at further reducing gun violence before Biden’s term ends in January.
Gun safety has been a priority for Biden and Harris, both gun owners, since they took office in 2021. Earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis, emphasizing the need for more research, access to mental health care and safe gun storage.
While gun control remains a contentious issue between Democrats, who generally support stricter laws, and Republicans, who cite Second Amendment rights, Feldman noted that her office has found common ground with Republican state and local officials. Seventeen states have passed new legislation to address gun violence, and unelected leaders, such as law enforcement and community leaders, have also played a role.
“The further you get from Washington, the less political this issue becomes,” Feldman noted, emphasizing the widespread desire for safer communities.