Newtown, CT – Today, the Department of Justice under President Biden made a historic step towards ending the gun violence epidemic by issuing a new proposal to expand background checks and codify the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the nation’s most significant piece of gun safety legislation in 30 years. The new rule would close a major loophole by expanding the definition of who must conduct a background check on a buyer before selling firearms.
Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, made the following statement in response:
“We applaud the Biden administration for issuing this rule. This action is a major step forward in expanding background checks, a necessary component of sensible gun policy reform that will protect communities across the country from gun violence.
“As gun violence continues to plague our schools, homes, and communities, an overwhelming majority of Americans are calling for action, including a need for expanded background checks. Sandy Hook Promise is committed to working with all of our elected leaders to prioritize children’s safety. We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for their leadership in expanding important measures like this to end the epidemic of gun violence across our nation.”
Since its founding in 2013, Sandy Hook Promise has championed the cause to expand background checks; from fighting for expanded background checks in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, to helping craft the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, to playing an instrumental role in the introduction of the Background Check Expansion Act this past February.
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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579