Seizing the Moment on Gun Safety

Gun violence in America remains a public-health emergency. Overshadowed of late by the Covid pandemic, its toll is still terrible by any sane measure. Indeed, these twin scourges have compounded each other. Including suicides, more than 43,000 people died from firearms in 2020. The gun homicide rate increased 25% over the previous year.

Joe Biden’s election and the prospect of a slender Democratic majority in the Senate have vastly improved the chance of progress on gun safety. (The National Rifle Association's difficulties — it filed for bankruptcy last week — might help, too.) The new administration should push Congress to vote on legislation to crack down on illegal gun sales and keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people. If Republicans persist in blocking common-sense reforms, Biden should use executive authority to act on his own.