1. To keep guns out of the wrong hands through background checks:
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is finalizing a rule to require background checks for people trying to buy some of the most dangerous weapons and other items through a trust, corporation or other legal entity.
- Attorney General Loretta Lynch has sent a letter to the states highlighting the importance of receiving complete criminal history records and criminal dispositions, information on persons disqualified because of mental illness, and qualifying crimes of domestic violence.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is overhauling the background check system to make it more effective and efficient. The envisioned improvements include processing background checks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and improving notification of local authorities when certain prohibited persons unlawfully attempt to buy a gun. The FBI will hire more than 230 additional examiners and other staff to help process the background checks.
2. To make communities safer from gun violence:
- The attorney general has directed federal prosecutors to continue to focus on smart and effective enforcement of gun laws.
- The president’s FY2017 budget will include funding for 200 new ATF agents and investigators to help enforce gun laws.
- ATF has established an Internet Investigation Center to track illegal online firearms trafficking and is dedicating $4 million and additional personnel to enhance the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network.
- ATF is finalizing a rule to ensure that gun dealers who ship firearms notify law enforcement if their guns are lost or stolen in transit.
- The attorney general issued a memo encouraging every U.S. attorney’s office to renew domestic violence outreach efforts.
3. To increase mental health treatment and reporting to the background check system:
- The administration is proposing a new $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care.
- The Social Security Administration has indicated it will begin the rulemaking process to include information in the background check system about beneficiaries who are prohibited from possessing a firearm for mental health reasons.
- The Department of Health and Human Services is finalizing a rule to remove unnecessary legal barriers preventing states from reporting relevant information about people prohibited from possessing a gun for specific mental health reasons.
4. To shape the future of gun safety technology:
- The president has directed the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology.
- The president also has directed the departments to review the availability of smart gun technology on a regular basis, and to explore potential ways to further its use and development to more broadly improve gun safety.
