PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — President Joe Biden announced several new executive actions Thursday, which he called “common-sense steps,” aimed at curbing gun violence across the nation.
He plans to tighten regulations on ghost guns — homemade guns that usually lack serial numbers and can’t be traced — and make it easier for states to adopt their own “red flag” laws.
Between the two most recent mass shootings that gained national attention — the massage parlors in Atlanta and the grocery store in Colorado — Biden said there were more than 850 additional shootings that killed 250 and injured 500 in the U.S.
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Philadelphia-area lawmakers welcomed Biden’s proposals. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the actions are long overdue.
“It’s great news,” he said. “All hands on deck. We’ve been waiting for the federal government to do something about guns. An ATF head who cares about gun control — it’s all a good sign.”
Biden nominated David Chipman, a former federal agent and adviser at the gun control group Giffords, to be the director of the ATF.
City officials say Philadelphia is on pace to reach 600 homicides this year — even before the typical summer spike.
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U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, who represents parts of Philadelphia and Delaware counties, said the U.S. House is already on board.
“We have passed universal background checks. We’ve moved to close the boyfriend loophole, the Charleston loophole. We have reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, all of which include measures to reduce gun violence,” she said.
Scanlon particularly welcomes action on outlawing ghost guns.
“Whenever we talk to our local law enforcement officers, they talk about the plague of ghost guns,” she said. “We’re looking forward to action actually coming out of Washington on this issue, and we’re looking forward to the Senate joining us in doing something about it.”
However, Scanlon warned it would take sustained effort to get the president’s proposals passed.
“It’s going to be a long road because the issue is large and there are many root causes that have to be dealt with,” she said.
Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey pledged his support for Biden’s action, and Sen. Pat Toomey indicated he is open to the measures.
“Congress needs to do its part now,” Casey said in a statement. “The Senate should pass these bills, in addition to banning military-style assault weapons, limiting the size of magazines and passing legislation to support survivors of gun violence. We can’t allow Republican Senators to prevent the passage of these lifesaving measures by using arcane Senate procedure. It’s time to act.”
Republican Toomey said his staff is reviewing the proposals, and he appreciates Biden’s willingness to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get it done.
“If done in a manner that respects the rights of law-abiding citizens, I believe there is an opportunity to strengthen our background check system so that we are better able to keep guns away from those who have no legal right to them,” Toomey said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.