Everytown Responds to Xavier Becerra’s Confirmation as HHS Secretary

NEW YORK –– Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, applauded Xavier Becerra’s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) –– a department that will be instrumental in combating the dual public health crises of COVID-19 and gun violence in America. 

“Secretary Becerra is a proven gun sense champion who will help lead the Biden administration’s effort to treat gun violence like the public health emergency it is,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “America is facing two intertwined crises right now — COVID and gun violence — and Secretary Becerra understands that we need to tackle both at the same time.”

“Secretary Becerra has been on the front lines of the fight for gun safety for decades, and he’s got several NRA F-ratings to prove it,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Our movement is lucky to have him leading HHS, a department that will be critical in addressing America’s gun violence crisis that kills more than 100 people every day and wounds hundreds more.”

Secretary Becerra has a long history of being a gun sense champion for California. As a member of Congress, then-Rep. Becerra supported strengthening our background check system, voted against PLCAA (a gun lobby-backed law that makes it nearly impossible to hold irresponsible or reckless gun sellers accountable in court, even when they allow a criminal or unstable person to access a gun), and was consistently given F-ratings by the NRA. As attorney general of California, Becerra has sued the Trump administration to stop the proliferation of ghost guns –– untraceable, do-it-yourself firearms made from parts available without a background check –– and joined a multi-state lawsuit to stop the proliferation of downloadable guns. 

This is the strongest gun safety administration in history, as evidenced by President Biden’s long record of taking on the NRA and passing life-saving laws, Vice President Kamala Harris’ years of gun safety advocacy, and the unmatched gun sense cabinet they have built in recent months.