Schiff Calls Biden’s Executive Actions on Guns ‘Critical First Step’

President Joe Biden on Thursday took action against gun violence.

Biden directed the U.S. Department of Justice to reduce the number of nearly impossible to trace ghost guns that can be purchased in kits without numbers and other identifying marks.

Biden also called for people purchasing those kits to undergo background checks.

“These actions from President Biden are a critical first step in addressing the epidemic of gun violence that America has faced for too long,” said U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff.

According to a press release issued by Schiff, a Democrat representing Pasadena, in 98 days there have been 133 mass shootings, 11,000 gun-related deaths, and 8.000 people injured.

“It’s long past time to act, and these measures to prevent the proliferation of ‘ghost guns,’ increase regulation on devices that convert pistols into rifles, improve data collection, and invest in community-led violence prevention programs will help make our communities safer for everyone,” Schiff said.

Locally, police continue to recover ghost guns during police stops.

Last week police seized two of the weapons during separate encounters with gang members.

At 7:40 a.m near Raymond Avenue and Woodbury Road, Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Burgess said officers recovered a ghost gun after they noticed a man slumped inside a parked car.

After making contact with the man, they discovered he was in possession of a loaded, unserialized handgun. More than 12 hours later, police recovered a second ghost gun during a traffic stop at Hammond Street and Summit Avenue.

Last year, 10 percent of the guns recovered by police were ghost guns, including one found at the scene of the fatal officer-involved shooting of Anthony McClain who was shot during a traffic stop.

“Congressional inaction is no longer excusable,” said Schiff. “We must rise to the occasion by continuing to pass bills that will make American streets safer for everyone.

“The Senate must pass prevention measures that have already passed the House this year, including bills to require background checks for private and gun show sales and close the ‘Charleston loophole,’ which allows people with criminal backgrounds to access firearms.

“And I’ll keep pushing for bills like my Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, which will end the special immunity for gun manufacturers and distributors, an issue that President Biden has also prioritized. We are not powerless to address gun violence in America. We must act,” he said.