NSSF Responds to Biden's Call for Gun Control

Three years ago, the Parkland shooter took the lives of 14 children and three teachers in Parkland, Florida. On the anniversary of this tragedy, the President called upon Congress to “end our gun violence epidemic,” an emotional response to a problem that is being taken head-on by the Firearms Industry.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) responded to Biden’s weekend statement. The Firearms Industry is committed to ending these horrific events. The NSSF and the Industry have always looked for real solutions to keep our communities safer and to end the criminal misuse of firearms.

“President Joe Biden’s call for his gun control agenda is not working to address the shared American goal of reducing criminal misuse of firearms.” NSSF said in a press release. “His demand that Congress ban the modern sporting rifle (MSR), which he knowingly mislabels an “assault rifle” and “weapon of war,” denies the reality that more murders are committed with knives, fists and clubs than all rifles combined. Over 20 million MSRs are in circulation today, used daily for lawful purposes.”

The President’s statement is nothing more than a way to pander to the radical agenda so often pushed by his party. He even went so far as to call to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The removal of this act would allow for lawsuits against gun manufactures if their gun was used to commit a crime. This act was originally passed with widespread support from both sides of the aisle, to repeal it would do nothing more than allow sue-happy lawyers a base to ruin gun manufacturers.

In his statement, the President further explained how gun violence is rapidly spreading across the nation. “And in this season of so much loss, last year’s historic increase in homicides across America, including the gun violence disproportionately devastating Black and Brown individuals in our cities, has added to the number of empty seats at our kitchen tables,” said Biden. He is right, violence has skyrocketed, there have been record highs of homicides and gun crimes committed in big cities following the Left’s call to defund our police force. The President forgot a key part of this situation: the cities where gun violence is skyrocketing already have the strictest gun laws of anywhere in the nation.

Calls for added gun restrictions using the Parkland shooting to elicit emotional responses are nothing more than a way to hide the failures of the local and federal authorities who did not act — based on the 45 warnings, tips and police encounters leading up to the event — in a manner to prevent the horrible shooting.

The Firearms industry has always been at the forefront of this battle and have partnered with local and federal authorities to protect our communities from criminals. According to NSSF, this is just some what the industry is currently doing to help prevent gun violence.

• Partnering with 15,000 law enforcement agencies to distribute 40 million firearm safety kits, including locking devices, for safe firearm storage through Project ChildSafe®.
• Fixing the FBI’s background check system by changing the law in 16 states and in Congress to increase reporting of disqualifying adjudicated mental health records, resulting in a 266 percent increase.
• Partnering with the ATF to prevent illegal firearm straw purchases and warning it is a crime punishable by 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
• Improving security at firearm retailers, with ATF, to deter criminals from stealing firearms.
• Matching ATF reward offers up to $5,000 to bring criminals to justice that steal firearms.
• Preventing firearm suicides with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Department of Veterans Affairs.

“The firearm industry is committed to the shared goal of reducing and ending criminal misuse of firearms, as well as accidents and suicides,” said the NSSF. “That is the common ground. These are the proven answers to achieve this goal.”

To learn more about what the Industry and NSSF are doing to combat gun crimes and to ensure communities are safe, visit Real Solutions on their website.

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