President Joe Biden has appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead his gun violence prevention office, further expanding her portfolio of responsibilities. Harris will oversee the office, while Stefanie Feldman, a longtime Biden aide with extensive experience in gun policy, will serve as its director.
This move adds another high-profile issue to Harris’s already extensive list of responsibilities, including voting rights, abortion, and addressing the increase in migration across the U.S. border. These issues are politically charged and complex, presenting significant challenges.
The new Office of Gun Violence Prevention aims to coordinate efforts across the government to reduce gun violence and engage with congressional leaders, state and local officials, and advocates to make progress in this area. Gun violence is likely to be a prominent issue in the 2024 presidential campaign and important to key voter groups that Biden is targeting.
President Biden has used executive actions to address gun violence since legislative efforts have faced challenges in Congress. In 2022, Congress passed significant gun legislation, expanding background checks and allocating funding for mental health services and school security initiatives. However, comprehensive gun control measures, such as an assault weapons ban, have faced hurdles in Congress.
Harris has been actively engaged in addressing gun violence and has met with communities affected by it. Her role in leading the gun violence prevention office underscores the administration’s commitment to combatting this issue