During her visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Vice President Harris is announcing two solutions to keep guns out of the hands of people in crisis.
Keeping students safe from gun violence in their school communities is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. According to the Washington Post, there have been 394 school shootings that exposed more than 360,000 students to gun violence since the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999.
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to preventing gun violence. President Biden and Vice President Harris worked to enact the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years. Following this, the President created the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which is being overseen by Vice President Harris. The unprecedented Office is accelerating the implementation of BSCA, identifying new executive actions, partnering with state and local officials, and coordinating the first ever federal interagency response to mass shootings and concentrations of community violence. The President has also taken more executive actions on preventing gun violence than any other President.
The Biden-Administration has invested more resources in school safety and taken significant steps to keeps firearms out of school. The strategy has focused on (1) stopping people in crisis and juveniles from accessing firearms, (2) implementing evidence-based school-based preventative solutions, and (3) addressing the mental health needs of students, particularly those impacted by gun violence.
During her visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the Vice President is announcing two solutions to keep guns out of the hands of people in crisis:
First, Vice President Harris is announcing the launch of the first-ever National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center, which will support the effective implementation of state red flag laws.
- The Resource Center will assist states, local governments, law enforcement, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service providers, and behavioral health and other social service providers in optimizing the usage of red flag laws – laws that allows a family member or law enforcement to seek a court order to temporarily take away access to guns if they feel a gun owner may harm themselves or others.
- The Resource Center will provide training and technical assistance, which will include developing and disseminating educational opportunities and workshops for a wide variety of stakeholders, providing implementation support, supporting peer-to-peer engagements with model learning sites, performing site assessments, and developing presentations and webinars that will advance states and localities’ knowledge in key areas related to ERPOs.
- The Resource Center is funded by a Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance grant made possible by BSCA, and is run by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.
Second, the Vice President is calling on states to pass red flag laws and to use BSCA funding to help implement laws already enacted.
- The Biden-Harris Administration made $750 million in federal funding to implement state crisis intervention programs, which includes red flag programs, mental health courts, drug courts, and veteran treatment courts. In February 2023, DOJ awarded over $238 million (covering FY22 and FY23) to 51 states, territories, and the District of Columbia that applied to use the funds to implement state crisis intervention programs. DOJ anticipates making up to an additional $141 million in awards in FY24.
- When it comes to red flag programs, this funding can be used to train (1) judiciary and court staff on red flag proceedings, (2) what family members can do when they see warning signs, and (3) first responders on recognizing signs of crisis. The funding can also be used to raise public awareness about red flag laws, distribute written and multimedia materials (including in multiple languages), and publish best practices.
- Of the 21 states and territories with red flag laws, only 6 are accessing the BSCA funding to implement their red flag laws. The remaining 15 states with red flag laws are strongly encouraged to use BSCA’s funding to implement their red flags laws.
- The 29 states without red flag laws should enact those laws and ensure effective implementation, supported by this BSCA funding.
Extreme Risk Protection Order or “Red Flag” Laws Can Prevent Shootings
The Department of Homeland Security’s National Threat Assessment Center conducted a systematic review of targeted school violence incidents and found that there were often warning signs. The review, which is corroborated by other analysis, found that these incidents were often preceded by observed warning signs, including instances where the individual told other about their plan ahead of time.
ERPO or “red flag” laws generally create a civil process for law enforcement (and often times family members) to seek a judicial order that a person is a danger to themselves or others and should temporarily lose the ability to purchase and possess firearms. The laws have due process protections that ensure people’s rights are respected, but also enable a concrete way to intervene.
The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School occurred after there were clear warning signs, but there were no tools to remove the shooter’s firearm. The survivors of the shooting advocated for passage of a red flag law in Florida, and the tragedy helped to inspire the passage of red flag laws in other states across the country. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia have red flag laws on the books. These laws have been shown to prevent mass shootings and suicides, but the tools made available under these laws are only effective if people are aware of them and can properly invoke them.
Additional Biden-Harris Administration Actions to Keep Schools Safe:
Addressing Access to Firearms by People in Crisis or Under 21
The National Threat Assessment Center found that 76 percent of incidents of targeted school shootings are committed with guns from the home. There are approximately 4.6 million children living in homes with unsecured firearms, so the Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized raising awareness about how safe gun storage can keep schools and young people safe. For example, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona sent a letter and template to school principals across the country explaining the importance of safe storage and encouraging them to communicate with parents, families, caregivers, and the broader community about how safe storage can protect students in school and in their communities.
The DOJ released a comprehensive guide to safe storage of firearms in order to provide subject matter expertise on different types of storage devices and best practices for safely storing firearms. This is the most comprehensive guide on safe storage ever released by the federal government. In addition, DOJ’s Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program made grant funds available for law enforcement to acquire gun locks and storage devices that can be distributed to individuals and businesses.
The Biden-Harris Administration has quickly implemented BSCA to enhance background check for individuals under 21 who seek to purchase a firearm at a licensed gun dealer. Federal law has long-prohibited firearms dealers from selling handguns to persons under 21 . The BSCA requires enhanced background checks before any sale or transfer of a firearm to a person under the age of 21. Since implementing BSCA’s enhanced background checks in October 2022, DOJ has conducted enhanced background checks on more than 230,000 transactions. Those checks have kept more than 2,300 firearms out of the hands of dangerous and prohibited persons, and over a quarter of those denials — 667 as of this month — were based solely on information received through the additional BSCA-enabled outreach. Just a few of the transactions denied under the new background check illustrate how important this new tool is working:
- A sheriff’s office responded to the NICS Section with an incident report indicating that the U21 firearm purchaser had been arrested for attempted murder and other offenses. The NICS Section obtained court documentation showing that the U21 purchaser was released on bond with court-ordered firearm restrictions pending the resolution of those charges. The transaction was denied based on a state prohibitor for active court-ordered firearm restrictions.
- During BSCA-mandated outreach, a juvenile court provided documentation establishing that a U21 firearm purchaser was found to be mentally ill and involuntarily committed for mental-health treatment. The transaction was denied based on the federal firearm prohibitor relating to mental-health adjudications.
- During BSCA-mandated outreach, a county court provided the NICS Section with documentation that the U21 firearm purchaser had sustained juvenile adjudications for sexual battery, possession of a knife at school, and intimidation. The transaction was denied based on a state prohibitor for disqualifying juvenile adjudications.
Lastly, untraceable ghost guns that could be ordered online and easily completed at home were starting to show up in school shootings. The Biden-Harris Administration cracked down on ghost guns by making clear that businesses manufacturing the most accessible ghost guns, including “buy-build-shoot” kits, must comply with federal firearm laws requiring background checks, a federal license, and inclusion of serial numbers.
Largest Dedicated Effort on Evidence-Based School-Based Solutions
The Biden-Harris Administration provided $1 billion to schools through the Stronger Connections Grant program, which helps provide students with safe and supportive learning opportunities and environments that are critical for their success and overall well-being. Stronger Connections funding is allocated to underserved school districts (including those that have a high rate of community or school violence) on a competitive basis and may be used for a variety of strategies, including school-based mental health services, safety and violence prevention and intervention programs, and physical security measures.
Over the past 3 years, the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded nearly $500 million for schools to invest in evidence-based solutions through the STOP School Violence Program, with funding supplemented by BSCA. The program is designed to improve K-12 school security by providing schools, students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence and ensure a positive school climate. This includes developing and operating anonymous reporting systems and training school personnel on preventing school violence. The DOJ anticipates approximately $160 million in additional funding opportunities for the STOP program this year.
The Biden Harris Administration has established the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse pursuant to the Luke and Alex School Safety Act that was part of BSCA. The Clearinghouse, located at SchoolSafety.gov, provides evidence-based practices and recommendations to improve school safety for use by states, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, state and local law enforcement agencies, health professionals, and the general public.
Historic Investment in Student Mental Health
The Biden-Harris Administration awarded $122 billion in American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds to help schools reopen and recover, and experts indicate more than $2 billion has been directed to hire more school psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals in K-12 schools. With the help of these funds, the number of school social workers, school counselors, school nurses, and school psychologists have all increased over pre-pandemic levels.
The Biden-Harris Administration will invest more than $1 billion to help underserved school districts hire and train school-based mental health professionals over the next five years. To date, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has awarded $571 million across 264 grantees in 48 states and the District of Columbia to boost the training, hiring, and diversity of mental health professionals in schools. The funding was made available through BSCA, and grantees estimate that these funds will collectively support the training and hiring of more than 14,000 new mental health professionals to serve America’s school children. ED anticipates making approximately $38 million of new funding available for new applicants his year.
The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to take action to ensure that our schools and our communities are safe from gun violence.
At the same time President Biden and Vice President Harris call on Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law, an assault weapons ban, and a secure storage law; to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which gives gun dealers and manufactures special immunity from certain liability for their products; and to increase appropriations to support youth mental health and violence prevention strategies.
Where Does Tim Walz Stand on Guns and Gun Control? Here’s His Record
Tim Walz’s journey from a staunch NRA ally to a prominent advocate for gun control reflects a broader shift within the Democratic Party over the past decade. As the vice-presidential nominee on Kamala Harris’ ticket and now the governor of Minnesota, Walz’s evolving stance on gun issues has made headlines and drawn both praise and criticism.
A Shifting Stance
Walz’s transformation on gun control is significant. During his tenure as a U.S. Representative from 2007 to 2019, Walz received high ratings from the National Rifle Association (NRA). He was listed by “Guns and Ammo” as one of the “top 20 politicians for gun owners” in 2016. His “A” ratings from the NRA in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 underscored his alignment with gun rights advocates during his congressional campaigns.
However, Walz’s positions have notably shifted since then. By the time of his 2018 gubernatorial race, he had earned an “F” rating from the NRA, reflecting his pivot towards more stringent gun control measures. Walz himself has commented on this evolution, stating on Twitter, “It’s true. I’m a veteran, a hunter, and a gun owner. But I’m also a dad. And for many years, I was a teacher. It’s about keeping our kids safe. I had an A rating from the NRA. Now I get straight F’s. And I sleep just fine.”
Key Events and Legislative Actions
The turning point for Walz’s stance on gun control came after several high-profile mass shootings. Following the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, which was the deadliest in modern U.S. history, Walz donated his NRA campaign contributions to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a charity supporting families of injured or deceased service members. In a Facebook post addressing the tragedy, Walz expressed his support for universal background checks, opposition to concealed carry legislation, and restrictions on gun silencers. As governor, he pledged to push for universal background checks and additional mental health funding.
The tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in 2018 further influenced Walz’s perspective. He wrote in the Star Tribune, “I’ve listened hard to students, parents, law enforcement, teachers, sportsmen and survivors of gun violence, in every corner of Minnesota. And while they have different perspectives, I’ve heard them all say one thing loud and clear: This. Needs. To. Stop.” This moment crystallized his support for an assault weapons ban and strengthened his commitment to gun control reforms.
Criticism and Support
Walz’s shift has not been without controversy. Randy Kozuch, chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund, criticized Walz as a “political chameleon,” accusing him of changing his positions to suit his political ambitions. Kozuch argued that Walz’s support for gun control measures was a betrayal of his earlier support for gun owners and that it had contributed to a more dangerous environment.
Conversely, advocates for gun control have praised Walz for his leadership. John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, lauded Walz as “living proof that responsible gun ownership and support for common-sense gun safety laws go hand-in-hand.” Feinblatt noted that Walz’s actions, including signing comprehensive gun safety legislation and donating NRA contributions, demonstrated his commitment to balancing gun rights with public safety.
The Broader Democratic Shift
Walz’s evolving stance on guns is part of a larger trend within the Democratic Party. Over the past decade, the party has increasingly embraced more progressive gun control measures in response to ongoing mass shootings and public demand for reform. This shift reflects a growing consensus among Democrats that stronger gun safety laws are essential for protecting communities while still respecting responsible gun ownership.
Conclusion
Tim Walz’s journey from NRA supporter to gun control advocate underscores a broader realignment within American politics regarding gun safety. His experiences and legislative actions highlight a personal and political evolution driven by a desire to address the urgent issue of gun violence. As the debate over gun control continues, Walz’s record provides a lens through which to understand the shifting dynamics of gun policy in the United States.
Everytown and Moms Demand Action Respond to Kamala Harris Selecting Governor Tim Walz as Her Vice Presidential Pick
Washington, D.C. — August 6, 2024 — Following Kamala Harris’s announcement of Governor Tim Walz as her vice presidential pick, major gun safety organizations have expressed strong support for the choice. Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action have released statements highlighting Walz’s record on gun control and the significance of his selection.
Support from Everytown for Gun Safety
John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, praised the selection, stating, “Governor Walz signed a sweeping package of gun safety bills into law just last year, so it’s no surprise that Vice President Harris, who helped lead the strongest gun safety White House in history, picked him as her running mate. This election is a life-or-death moment for the clear majority of Americans who are demanding to live free from gun violence. Everytown will go all out to help Vice President Harris and Governor Walz defeat Trump and Vance, whose ‘guns everywhere’ agenda is a dream come true for extremists and criminals.”
Feinblatt’s remarks underscore the alignment between Harris and Walz on gun safety issues, contrasting their positions with those of their opponents, whom he criticizes for their lenient stance on firearms.
Moms Demand Action Highlights Commitment
Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, also expressed enthusiasm for Walz’s nomination. She said, “Kamala Harris has spent her entire public service career making communities safer, and with Governor Walz as her running mate, she has a partner who shares this fundamental commitment. While the Trump-Vance ticket represents danger and extremism, Harris and Walz stand for the future we all deserve. From now until November, we’ll harness the power of our 11 million-strong movement to elect the leaders who will actually fight for a safer America.”
Ferrell-Zabala’s statement reflects the organization’s focus on electing leaders who prioritize gun safety and community protection, contrasting their stance with that of the Trump-Vance ticket, which they view as a threat to public safety.
Gen Z’s Perspective
Timberlyn Mazeikis, a gun violence survivor and volunteer leader with Students Demand Action from Minnesota, emphasized the stakes for younger generations. “Gen Z has zero interest in losing any more rights under Donald Trump. We either go forward with a Harris-Walz Administration, or we go back. Gen Z is not going back,” Mazeikis said. “Gun violence is the number one killer of our generation, meaning we can’t afford anything less than leaders who will prioritize basic gun safety. So the choice is easy. Our weight is behind the ticket that’ll ban assault weapons, not books.”
Mazeikis’s comments highlight the urgency of the gun violence crisis for younger voters and their commitment to supporting candidates who will enact meaningful gun safety measures.
Governor Walz’s Record on Gun Safety
Governor Tim Walz’s selection as vice presidential candidate is notable for his significant record on gun safety. Key points include:
- Legislation: Earlier this year, Walz signed legislation to prohibit automatic weapon modification devices and to collect gun crime data.
- Recognition: Last year, he was named State Level Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year at Everytown’s Gun Sense University.
- Endorsement: Everytown endorsed Walz’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign.
- Gun Sense Trifecta: In 2023, Walz achieved a gun sense trifecta in Minnesota, supported by four Moms Demand Action volunteers who won seats in the Minnesota Senate. He signed a critical public safety omnibus bill that included universal background checks, a Red Flag law, and one of the largest investments in community-based violence prevention programs of any state.
The selection of Governor Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’s running mate has been met with strong support from gun safety advocates. Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action have all highlighted Walz’s robust record on gun safety and the alignment of his policies with their mission to combat gun violence. As the election approaches, these organizations are mobilizing their resources to support Harris and Walz, contrasting their vision with that of their opponents and advocating for a future with stricter gun control measures.
Here is the response by the NRA-ILA
We talked last week about one of the problems newly-minted VP candidate Tim Walz (D) had been facing. Whether it is considered “stolen valor” for Walz to have implied he served in an active combat zone when he did not is a hotly debated topic these days. Our problem with Walz, though, is the idea that he is any sort of an expert to be listened to when determining what firearms the government should prohibit law-abiding citizens from owning.
The positions Walz has taken on firearms has clearly been guided by his political aspirations, not any expertise or experience he may try to claim to have.
As we pointed out, the firearms Walz may have carried while serving in the National Guard are qualitatively different from the semi-automatic firearms he, his running mate, Joe Biden, and other anti-gun extremists have been trying to ban ever since the ’94 semi-auto ban expired, by design, in 2004.
Again, we covered that issue in detail last week, but this week, we’d like to discuss an often overlooked matter that was also brought to light in the video posted by the Kamala HQ account on X (formerly Twitter).
Not only does Walz want to ban tens-of-millions of semi-automatic firearms like the AR-15, but he apparently wants to prohibit law-abiding gun owners from carrying firearms outside of the states in which they reside.
In the video, Walz claims he has voted to “protect the Second Amendment,” then runs down a list of anti-Second Amendment proposals he supports (like banning guns), including stating, “We can make sure we don’t have reciprocal carry among states….”
Now, we presume his opposition to “reciprocal carry among states” refers to states recognizing the permits to carry firearms issued by other states. As most readers know, NRA has worked for decades to help pass legislation at the state level to ensure each state recognizes carry permits issued by other states. But some states make it nearly impossible when it comes to passing legislation that advances the rights protected under the Second Amendment.
Think California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.
Because some states are held under the control of anti-gun politicians, we have also been working for decades to pass a federal law establishing a national reciprocity standard that would ensure the right to self-defense does not simply cease to exist when one crosses the border of certain states.
So what does Walz mean when he says he wants to “make sure we don’t have reciprocal carry among states”? Is he opposed to a national standard, or does he want to end all reciprocal agreements?
Is this part of his evolution from someone who used to actually support the Second Amendment with his votes early in his tenure in Congress—when he represented a rural district that supported our right to keep and bear arms—to an ambitious politician more concerned with how he could advance his political career?
Back in 2011, Representative Walz voted for the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.” Six years later, after he had already announced he would be running to be governor, he voted against the “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017.” That was likely the price he gladly paid to receive the blessing of anti-gun extremists that help decide the fate of statewide candidates in Minnesota.
Now, he appears to not just oppose a national standard for reciprocity, but he seems to want to prohibit ALL reciprocity agreements, although that is unclear. Whether or not this represents a policy position of the Harris-Walz campaign is also unclear. Harris had been the presumed Democrat candidate for nearly a month, and as of last Friday, she still had not posted a single policy position on her campaign website. With fewer than 90 days before election day—even fewer before early voting starts—all we have heard from Harris-Walz are vague references to possible policies during campaign rallies.
Combine the delay with posting detailed policy positions with the fact that Harris has yet to face any real scrutiny from the media—she has yet to hold a press conference or take any meaningful questions from reporters—and one might be inclined to believe that the Harris-Walz ticket is trying to hide much of its agenda for as long as possible in order to fool voters into believing it would not be the most extreme anti-Second Amendment administration we’ve ever seen.
While Biden-Harris currently holds the title of most anti-gun administration ever, Harris-Walz appears to be looking to steal the crown.
We know that Harris, when she ran for the Democrat nomination for president for 2020 (although she dropped out in 2019, after failing to gain any traction and before a single primary was held), tried to out-anti-gun the field by promising to enact not just a ban on semi-automatics, but also a confiscation scheme that she tried to sell as a “mandatory buy-back.” We also know that Harris is now trying to distance herself from that position that even anti-gun radicals seem to think goes too far…at least to admit publicly.
We don’t believe her, and neither should you.
Will Walz also try to distance himself from an equally radical position of wanting to eliminate reciprocity agreements on carry permits? Or will he try to claim that he misspoke; an excuse his handlers and supporters have tried to use to explain away his comment implying he served in a combat zone.
Election Day 2024 may seem right around the corner, but there is still plenty of time to expose just how extreme the Democrat ticket is when it comes to wanting to eradicate the Second Amendment. We look forward to making regular updates on this front, and hope the Harris-Walz campaign continues to be so generous with all the material they have been providing.