In a noteworthy development for Second Amendment advocates, President Joe Biden said he would be making a groundbreaking announcement regarding the establishment of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention at the executive level. 

According to sources cited by Politico, the president will appoint Vice President Kamala Harris to assume the crucial responsibility of overseeing this office.

“Every time I’ve met with families impacted by gun violence as they mourn their loved ones, and I’ve met with so many throughout the country, they all have the same message for their elected officials: ‘do something,’” Biden said in a statement reported by Politico.

“It’s why, last year, I signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to keep guns out of dangerous hands, and have taken more executive action than any President in history to keep communities safe. But as I’ve said before — while these are important steps, they are just the first steps toward what is needed.”

How the Office Will Work

In a recent report by the Washington Post, it has been revealed that a new office will be established, operating as a collaborative initiative between the White House, the Community Justice Action Fund, and Everytown for Gun Safety.

Shannon Watts, an affiliate of Mike Bloomberg and the founder of Moms Demand Action, has expressed her admiration for the establishment of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, as Breitbart News reported.

Watts commended this move, stating, “If this announcement is, in fact, the creation of a single point of leadership on gun violence in the administration, it’s a very big deal for the movement.”

She added, “A governmental focal point dedicated to creating a framework for overseeing national policy, research and resources would be more than symbolic — it would be a significant turning point for the movement.”

Politico pointed out that the Vice President will be in charge of the office, and even printed excerpts of a statement from her.

The VP's Comments

The excerpt outlined the administration's talking points, saying “Our promise to the American people is this: we will not stop working to end the epidemic of gun violence in every community, because we do not have a moment, nor a life to spare.”

Harris also noted, “The new Office of Gun Violence Prevention will play a critical role in implementing President Biden’s and my efforts to reduce violence to the fullest extent under the law, while also engaging and encouraging Congressional leaders, state and local leaders, and advocates to come together to build upon the meaningful progress that we have made to save lives.”

As deputy directors of the new office, Greg Jackson, executive director of the Community Justice Action Fund, and Rob Wilcox, senior director of federal government affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety, will report to Feldman.

Gun groups have pushed Biden for years to take this action, which advocates view as a tangible step forward in the absence of gun control legislation in Congress.

Activists have argued that such an office will help the administration coordinate across the federal government on gun policy issues, while also enabling the White House to take more control on the issue.