Biden executive order to increase gun background checks

President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed an executive order that would increase the number of background checks done before firearm sales. The order would also expand campaigns to promote safe firearm storage and increase the enforcement of extreme risk protection, or “red flag” laws. Biden spoke about the order Tuesday afternoon in Monterey Park, Calif., where a gunman killed 11 people in January.

What other gun legislation has been enacted recently? Last year, Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that made funding available for states to better monitor gun sales. The act was passed 65–33 in June by the Senate with 15 Republicans joining all 50 Democrats to vote in favor. The act also clarified the definition of a federally licensed firearms dealer and required a purchase time delay to investigate firearm buyers who are younger than 21.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard and Brandon Webb discuss recent gun control efforts on The World and Everything in It podcast.