New White House’s Strategy On Combatting Domestic Terrorism Confirms Lax Gun Laws are a Driving Factor in Domestic Terrorism Threats

Strategy Acknowledges Proliferation of Guns Amongst These Groups and Lax Gun Laws as Driving Factors in Domestic Terrorism

Everytown Support Fund January Report Shows How Gun Lobby Cultivated Environment for Armed Extremism to Thrive

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety and their grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, respond to the White House releasing a national strategy for countering domestic terrorism. The strategy acknowledges the intersection between extremism and lax gun laws in our country. Throughout his administration, President Joe Biden has repeatedly spotlighted the growing threat of extremism. Additionally, Attorney General Merrick Garland has made extremism a top priority at the Department of Justice, including naming it as the top security threat. The administration has also prioritized prosecuting participants in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. 

“The U.S. Government, in close partnership with civil society, will address the long-term contributors that are responsible for much of today’s domestic terrorism. This includes reducing and protecting Americans from racial, ethnic, and religious hatred, and stemming the flow of firearms to individuals intending to commit acts of domestic terrorism,” the strategy fact sheet says. 

“This strategy once again tells us that the mix of far right extremism and easy access to guns is an urgent and deadly threat to America,” said Nick Suplina, managing director of law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety. “ We are grateful that the Biden-Harris administration is prioritizing this critical work, and call on Congress to pass legislation that meets this threat head on.”

Everytown Support Fund released reports in October 2020 and January 2021 on the gun lobby’s role enabling armed far-right extremism, which detailed the gun lobby’s decades-long amplification of radicalizing rhetoric and advocacy for laws that enable right-wing extremists in the United States to arm themselves. The reports also examined the toxic mix of conspiracy theories, far-right extremism, and accessibility of guns in America and the connection between extremism, lax gun laws, and the Capitol insurrection.

To speak with a policy expert or researcher about the connection between guns and extremism, please do not hesitate to reach out.