Reducing Gun Violence and Making Our Communities Safer
Directs a broad set of federal agencies to take coordinated action on gun violence, including implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, tightening background check enforcement, promoting firearm safe storage, and submitting proposals for supporting shooting survivors.
Establishes concrete reporting deadlines and operational requirements but stops short of changing any law; most major policy shifts — such as redefining who must obtain a federal firearms license — are framed as future rulemaking possibilities rather than immediate rules.
What this order does
What it orders
The order directs the Attorney General, HHS Secretary, Education Secretary, and DHS Secretary each to submit a report within 60 days detailing their implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and plans to maximize its impact. It directs the Attorney General to develop and implement a plan addressing who must obtain a Federal Firearms License (FFL), preventing revoked licensees from continuing to deal firearms, and publicly releasing inspection reports of dealers cited for violations. It directs several agencies to expand safe-storage campaigns and promote the use of extreme risk protection orders. It requires federal law enforcement agencies to adopt National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) submission and utilization policies within 180 days. It instructs the Department of Defense to develop firearm acquisition principles, and the Department of Transportation to reduce firearm theft during shipment between licensed dealers.
The order sets a September 15, 2023 deadline for a multi-agency proposal on how the federal government can better support gun violence survivors, families, and first responders. The FTC is encouraged — but not directed — to issue a public report on how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors and civilians. The order explicitly preserves existing agency authorities, does not create enforceable individual rights, and is subject to available appropriations.
Who it affects
Federal agencies and their law enforcement components, federally licensed firearm dealers subject to potential new compliance and inspection-reporting standards, carriers and shippers of firearms between licensed dealers, survivors and communities affected by gun violence who may eventually receive new federal support, and the general public through any resulting safe-storage and red-flag-law outreach campaigns.
Why it matters
Licensed gun dealers could face stricter ATF scrutiny and public release of violation inspection reports. Federal law enforcement agencies must update their ballistics data reporting procedures. Survivors and families of shooting victims may see new federally coordinated support services — but only after a proposal is developed and further action is taken.
What must happen and when
How the order is supposed to work
The order works through a staged reporting and implementation arc. Within 60 days, four cabinet agencies report on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act implementation. By September 15, 2023, a multi-agency group submits a survivor-support proposal to the President. Within 180 days, all federal law enforcement components must issue NIBIN policies. The Attorney General's FFL-definition clarification is tied to a separate "develop and implement a plan" directive with no fixed deadline, and rulemaking is only described as something to consider. Enforcement leverage is administrative — agencies must act but the order itself does not create legal rights or penalties for noncompliance beyond reporting obligations to the President.
Actions and deadlines
- Submit reports on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act implementation, effects, and future plans
- Develop and implement a plan clarifying who must obtain a Federal Firearms License, including considering rulemaking
- Issue National Integrated Ballistic Information Network submission and utilization policies across federal law enforcement components
- Submit a multi-agency proposal on federal support for gun violence survivors, families, first responders, and affected communities
- Expand existing federal campaigns promoting safe storage of firearms across designated agencies
- Develop and implement principles for firearm acquisition by the Department of Defense to support public safety practices
- Work to reduce loss and theft of firearms during shipment between federally licensed dealers and improve reporting