Biden Establishes First-Ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
In a historic move to combat the nation’s gun violence epidemic, President Joe Biden announced on September 22, 2023, the creation of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The office, unveiled in a Rose Garden ceremony, is tasked with implementing and expanding upon key executive and legislative actions aimed at saving lives and reducing the gun violence that has ravaged communities across the country. Vice President Kamala Harris, a key leader in the administration’s efforts to end gun violence, will oversee the office, underscoring the administration’s commitment to addressing this crisis at the highest levels.
The new office builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic actions to end gun violence. President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant legislative action in nearly 30 years aimed at reducing gun violence, and has taken more meaningful executive action than any other president to make schools, churches, grocery stores, and communities safer. The administration has worked diligently to implement this legislation, and most recently, the Justice Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives proposed a rule to reduce the number of guns sold without background checks and keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
To lead the office’s work, President Biden appointed three subject experts: Stefanie Feldman as director, and gun violence survivors Greg Jackson and Rob Wilcox as deputy directors. Their personal experiences and expertise will guide the office’s efforts to coordinate a comprehensive approach to gun violence prevention. The establishment of this office represents a critical step in the administration’s ongoing commitment to tackling gun violence and ensuring the safety of all Americans.
Shimanta Das 
