California Black Media

Biden-Harris Executive Order Reinforces California Gun Laws

On Sept. 26, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced an executive order that directs federal agencies to improve school-based active shooter drills and combat the rising threat of violence from 3-D printed and converted firearms. The directive aims to advance the Biden-Harris administration’s agenda to reduce gun violence and save lives.

Published

4 months ago

September 13, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

On Sept. 26, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced an executive order that directs federal agencies to improve school-based active shooter drills and combat the rising threat of violence from 3-D printed and converted firearms.

The directive aims to advance the Biden-Harris administration’s agenda to reduce gun violence and save lives. The agenda aligns with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal to strengthen gun laws and prevent traumatic incidents of mass violence. Two days before the White House announcement, Newsom signed 24 bipartisan bills enacting new measures that increase protections against gun violence and domestic violence, as well as mass shootings.

“California won’t wait until the next school shooting or mass shooting to act,” said Newsom.

“Data shows that California’s gun safety laws are effective in preventing gun-related deaths — which makes the ongoing inaction and obstruction by politicians in the pocket of the gun lobby even more reprehensible,” he said.

The executive order stated that President Biden is establishing an Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force that consists of federal leaders from key departments and agencies. The task force is required to issue a 90-day report assessing the threats posed by unserialized 3-D guns and machinegun conversion devices and the capacity of federal agencies to detect and intercept the creation of these devices. The task force will provide an interagency plan to combat the threats. Congress will grant funding and authority to federal agencies to help the task force achieve the mandated objectives.

The Biden-Harris administration says, “Congress must act” and acknowledges that there is more work to do regarding gun violence prevention actions that can save lives.

Newsom commended the Biden-Harris Administration’s “leadership in advancing – yet again – life-saving policies to make up for Congress’s continued failure to protect our communities from gun violence.”

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2024 in Review: 7 Questions for Former Assemblymember Chris Holden

While in office, Holden championed efforts to improve education outcomes for students and advocated for social and racial justice. Legislation he wrote or sponsored also focused on, innovation in transportation, protecting developmental disability service providers and improving public health, more broadly.

Published

2 weeks ago

January 6, 2025

Oakland Post

Hon. Chris Holden. File photo.

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

In 2012, Assemblymember Chris Holden was first elected to the California State Assembly representing the 41^st District in the San Gabriel Valley.

He was re-elected to that position for the following four terms.

Holden, a graduate of San Diego State University, lives in Pasadena with his wife, Melanie, and children Nicholas, Alexander, Austin, Mariah and Noah. Holden is the son of former State Senator and LA City Councilmember Nate Holden.

Before he closed out his final year of service in the Assembly, California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Holden. He reflected on his accomplishments this year and his goals moving forward.

Looking back at 2024, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why? 

A project I’ve been working on for well over 36 years — the light rail system — made its way into Pasadena from downtown LA. Now it’s making its way through the San Gabriel Valley to Pomona.

How did your leadership and investments contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians? 

Having an opportunity to represent a multi-ethnic and diverse district is exciting, but to be able to bring a voice for a lived African American experience from the San Gabriel Valley is very important.

What frustrated you the most over the last year?

I still am frustrated that we aren’t seeing the kind of progress on affordable housing to allow underrepresented communities to be able to afford to live in the community that they grew up in.

What inspired you the most over the last year?

There has been a lot of movement around reparations through community engagement. Dr. Shirley Weber put forth the bill to establish a reparations task force and that task force met for a number of years. Two members of our caucus served on it, Sen. Steven Bradford and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer. A thousand-page report and a hundred recommendations or more came out of that. And now we’re in the process of finding ways to implement some of those recommendations. It’s going to be a longer process, but I’m hopeful because California, once again, is on the front end of taking on a really challenging issue.

What is one lesson you learned in 2024 that will inform your decision-making next year?

Always be mindful how quickly the winds can change. We’ve gone from 10 years of having budget surpluses to this year having a $45 billion deficit.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?

Inequality.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2025?

Well, I won’t be in the legislature in 2025, but I love public policy. I’d like to find myself in a position where I’m continuing to have an influence on how public policy is shaped and formed. I’m just looking forward to being a vital voice going into next year in a different role. It will also be an opportunity to lay a foundation to take another run, possibly for a seat on the LA County Board of Supervisors in 2028.