The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs hosted a virtual meet-up with local leaders from across the country to push for stronger enforcement of red flag laws. In a recent move, the Vice President has called on states to tap into federal funding to reinforce these laws, designed to prevent gun access for individuals deemed a threat. Despite a substantial $750 million kitty set aside for state crisis interventions including red flag laws, most of this money remains unspent.

During the April 12 assembly, highlighted in a statement by the White House, administration officials and policy experts emphasized the need for using the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) funding to bring red flag laws into full effect. Remarkably, out of 21 states with such laws on the books, only six are utilizing the BSCA funds for implementation.

The event featured key figures from the Biden-Harris administration, including Office of Gun Violence Prevention's Director Stefanie Feldman, who was joined by counterparts Rob Wilcox and Greg Jackson. State and local leaders shared the virtual stage with experts from the criminal justice and public health spheres, underscoring the nationwide urgency for taking proactive steps on gun safety.

This federal drive dovetails with the Administration's recent announcement of a new rule aimed at slashing the number of firearms sold sans background checks. These initiatives signal the current Administration’s strategy to cut down on illegally obtained firearms funneling into communities and, to hold those responsible for circumventing the law accountable.