Everytown Statement on President Biden’s 2024 Campaign Announcement

NEW YORK - Today, following President Biden's announcement that he is suspending his presidential bid, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements:

"President Biden has been a fierce champion for the gun violence prevention movement for decades and, over the last four years, cemented his legacy as the strongest gun safety president in American history," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. "The Trump-Vance ticket is a dream come true for gun extremists and a nightmare for the safety of law enforcement and our communities. With the life-saving progress the Biden-Harris Administration has made on gun safety at risk, Everytown's number one priority will be defeating the Trump-Vance ticket and their extremist agenda in November."

"President Biden has been a champion of safer communities, a fierce voice against extremism, and the most effective president on gun safety in history. Over the past four years, he and Vice President Harris have been relentless in their commitment to the American people and to gun safety," said Angela Ferrell Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. "We're deeply grateful for the progress ushered in by the Biden-Harris administration and our volunteers stand ready to do everything in our power to defeat not just the Trump-Vance ticket, but their extremist, guns everywhere agenda up and down the ballot."

"Young people elected the Biden-Harris ticket because it offered us a future worth voting for, especially when it came to gun violence prevention. President Biden pulled up a chair and gave our generation a seat at the table unlike any administration before," said Gavin Bendross, a Students Demand Action National Organizing Board member. "These elections have never been about one person. We're electing an agenda, an entire administration dedicated to advancing the issues we care about most - and we're all in to ensure the Trump-Vance ticket gets nowhere near the White House."

In just four years, the Biden-Harris Administration has:

• Signed and implemented the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,
• Confirmed an ATF director for the first time in seven years
• Issued historic executive actions to address gun violence, including combating deadly, untraceable ghost guns, helping close the background check loophole, and finalizing the stabilizing arm brace rule
• Put forth a comprehensive strategy to address gun violence that includes efforts to fight gun trafficking, investments in community violence intervention programs, and more.
• Built the strongest gun sense cabinet in history
• Opened the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
• Finalized a lifesaving rule closing loopholes that allow unlicensed gun dealers and prohibited persons to avoid background checks
  

Just last month, President Biden addressed Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's annual training conference, Gun Sense University, in Washington, D.C. Vice President Kamala Harris addressed Gun Sense University last year in Chicago. Gun Sense University brings together Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers and survivors of gun violence from all 50 states to share best practices, participate in training sessions about effective organizing and prepare for the crucial work ahead.