Combating Emerging Firearms Threats and Improving School-Based Active-Shooter Drills
Executive Order 14127 directs federal agencies to coordinate more aggressively around two big gun-safety challenges: (1) emerging firearms threats, including ghost guns, machinegun conversion devices, and 3D-printed firearms, and (2) how schools conduct active-shooter drills in a way that improves safety while reducing trauma and protecting students’ civil rights. It creates the Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force to conduct interagency work, set risk-based strategies, and develop plans to curb illegal production and distribution of advanced firearms tools (like 3D-printed parts and conversion devices). It also requires the Education and Homeland Security departments, with other agencies’ support, to publish practical guidance on school drills within about four months, covering best practices, accessibility, language needs, and future research funding. The order emphasizes information sharing, enforcement authorities, and potential actions to limit the internet and cross-border flows of relevant technologies and files, all while operating within existing law and appropriations. In short, the order aims to stay ahead of evolving firearm technologies and to modernize school-based drills by providing guidance, coordination, and planning across multiple federal agencies, with attention to safety, civil rights, trauma reduction, and practical implementation.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force to coordinate federal efforts across multiple agencies (including State, DOJ, Commerce, DHS, OMB, OSTP, and others invited by the Chair) to address ghost guns, machinegun conversion devices, and 3D-printed firearms.
- 2Requires two 90-day risk assessments and strategies: (a) to stop the proliferation of machinegun conversion devices and (b) to address the emerging threat of 3D-printed unserialized/undetectable firearms, including plans for enforcement, export/import controls, and interagency seizures of 3D printers used for illegal production.
- 3Directs interagency plans to curb illegal export/import of software or technology used to 3D print firearms, and to expand partnerships with law enforcement at all levels for training, tracing, and reporting recoveries to ATF.
- 4Mandates within 110 days the development and publication of information on school-based active-shooter drills, including research summaries, best practices, stakeholder engagement, civil rights considerations, trauma-minimization approaches, accessibility for students with disabilities or language needs, and guidance on funding for future research.
- 5Provides general provisions that the order does not alter existing authorities or budgets, and that implementation must align with applicable law and appropriations.