Advocates for gun violence prevention are hoping for progress following President Biden’s recent action on the issue.
The President signed an executive order aimed at stiffening background checks to purchase guns, directing federal agencies to comply with existing laws and procedures.
This move comes as gun violence remains a persistent problem in communities across the country, with over 3,600 people killed in shootings so far in 2023.
ABC Action News spoke with families personally impacted by gun violence, including LaMaria Smith, whose daughter Savannah Mathis was shot and killed while driving near a park in December 2021.
Smith expressed gratitude for the President’s action on the issue, saying that it lets her know that somebody cares about what families like hers are going through.
In response to the ongoing issue of gun violence, organizations like Safe and Sound Hillsboro in Hillsborough County, Florida, are working to prevent gun violence through initiatives like a youth gun offender program.
However, advocates recognize that the problem will not be solved overnight and that it will take continued efforts from the community to bring an end to the violence.
