On Monday, President Joe Biden announced a new regulation meant to address the proliferation of “ghost guns”—homemade or improvised firearms that lack commercial serial numbers and are unregulated and untraceable. National PTA President Anna King issued the following statement on the new regulation:
“For years, National PTA and PTA members nationwide have advocated for sensible gun safety and violence prevention policies that will help keep children safe, including banning the sale of ghost guns. The use of ghost guns has increased ten-fold from 2016, including in school shootings. Our association applauds the Biden Administration for taking action with a policy that will save lives. This regulation is an important step in addressing the gun violence epidemic our country has endured for far too long.
“In addition to banning the sale of ghost guns, National PTA supports federal restrictions on firearms that would:
- Require knowledge of appropriate firearms use and safety practices, including safe gun and ammunition storage.
- Require a waiting period and comprehensive background check for all individuals prior to purchasing a firearm to screen out illegal firearm purchasers.
- Restrict internet gun sales, including kits that can be used to make and modify guns.
- Tighten enforcement of laws on straw purchases of weapons, and institute some limits on how many guns can be purchased in a month.
- Institute a background check for ammunition purchases.
- Ban bump stocks, military-style semi-automatic assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines.
“Our association also believes policies and legislation must include but not be limited to:
- Fund research on the causes and effects of gun violence on youth and communities, as well as evidence-based strategies to reduce gun violence.
- Establish education programs to teach students, parents and community members about gun safety and violence prevention.
- Fund research of ‘Smart guns’ that fire only after a fingerprint or a PIN is entered, or if used near a particular bracelet.
“While the regulation on ghost guns is a step in the right direction, common-sense legislation must be enacted immediately to help protect our nation’s families. Just on Tuesday, at least 10 people were injured by gunfire in the subway in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“This crisis is destroying our communities, and National PTA and PTAs nationwide remain committed to calling on Congress to implement policies that will prevent more tragedies from occurring. It is a top priority of our association to prevent and eliminate gun violence, promote the safety and well-being of all children, and ensure every child has every opportunity to reach their full potential.”
