September 22, 2023
Statement of Esta Soler,
President and Founder, Futures Without Violence
Contact: Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1997
Soler Applauds New White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
“At this time when gun violence is shattering families and communities in this country every day, we applaud President Biden for creating the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and for appointing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead it. Vice President Harris has been an innovator on violence prevention throughout her career. She has vast experience, superb skills, and a deep commitment to stopping gun violence. We are confident that she will make this new Office a powerful force in ending the scourge of gun violence that is devastating our nation.
“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, enacted last year, only partially closed the ‘boyfriend loophole,’ which for too long has left survivors of domestic and sexual violence vulnerable to armed abusers. The work to close that loophole is not done, and we hope and expect this new White House Office will work with Congress to ensure that abusive dating partners with protective orders against them can no longer access guns. We also are closely watching United States v. Rahimi, to be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court this term, because an adverse decision in that case would pose a grave threat to women and children experiencing violence and abuse.
“In addition to fully closing the ‘boyfriend loophole,’ we hope the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention will work with Congress to ban militarized assault weapons, require safe storage, and fund the prevention and community intervention programs that offer the promise of stopping gun violence. With guns taking lives every day, there’s no time to waste. We thank President Biden for his tireless work to end gun violence, and for establishing this Office. We pledge to do all we can to make it the success the country needs it to be.”
# # # #
ABOUT FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE:
For more than 35 years, FUTURES has been providing groundbreaking programs, policies and campaigns that empower individuals and organizations working to end violence against women and children around the world. Striving to reach new audiences and transform social norms, FUTURES trains professionals such as doctors, nurses, judges and athletic coaches on improving responses to violence and abuse. FUTURES also works with advocates, policymakers and others to build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships. More information is available at www.futureswithoutviolence.org.
