Signing of Ghost Gun Restriction Executive Order
Unable to Fulfill Pre-Inauguration Promise of Comprehensive Gun Control
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Joe Biden has classified gun violence as a 'pandemic' and has taken steps to regulate 'ghost guns' and other firearms. This response comes after a series of shootings targeting Asians, including the incident in Atlanta, Georgia, since his inauguration. However, some critics argue that this is a passive response rather than comprehensive gun control.
On the 8th (local time), President Biden spoke at the White House Rose Garden while signing an executive order on gun regulation, diagnosing shootings in the U.S. as a 'public health crisis.' President Biden urged, "This is a pandemic. It must stop."
President Biden stated, "Today, we are taking measures not only against the gun crisis but also against an actual public health crisis."
President Biden's regulations targeted 'ghost guns.' Ghost guns are firearms assembled by individuals from purchased parts. They lack serial numbers, making regulation and tracking difficult, and can be easily made, raising concerns about their misuse in crimes.
He also announced that accessories that convert pistols into rifle-level weapons will be regulated as registered items under national gun laws.
Furthermore, President Biden called for banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, demanding the prohibition of private possession of military-grade weapons and large ammunition clips.
Alongside this, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was ordered to submit annual reports on illegal gun trafficking within the U.S. Additionally, states were encouraged to more easily adopt Red Flag laws that selectively regulate dangerous individuals who possess firearms.
The Washington Post (WP) reported that following two recent major shooting incidents, civic activists and the Democratic Party pressured President Biden to implement executive orders on gun control.
However, foreign media assessed that the measures announced that day fall short of fulfilling President Biden's campaign promises and are not legislative.
President Biden himself seemed to avoid framing these measures as gun control, emphasizing that the government's strengthened gun enforcement actions do not infringe upon the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.
President Biden's campaign promises included strengthening background checks for gun buyers, banning online sales, and prohibiting the sale of high-performance firearms. The announced measures differ significantly from these promises. Notably, during his campaign, he pledged to strengthen gun regulations on his first day in office, but according to WP, he has failed to keep that promise.
Unlike the government and the Democratic Party, the opposition Republican Party, backed by gun manufacturers, is resisting gun control measures.
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