Biden’s Firearm Advisory Removed Under Trump’s Orders

President Trump has removed Biden-era gun violence advisory, citing Second Amendment protections as the administration rolls back what many conservatives viewed as federal overreach into firearms policy.

Quick Takes

The Trump administration has removed former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s public health advisory on gun violence from government websites.
The removal is part of Trump’s executive order to protect Second Amendment rights by reviewing federal actions that might infringe on constitutional gun rights.
Biden’s advisory had labeled firearm violence a “public health crisis” and recommended measures like assault weapon bans and universal background checks.
The White House says illegal violence is a crime issue that requires law enforcement solutions, not public health interventions.
The removal occurred between March 5-15, 2025, as part of a broader review of Biden-era gun policies.

Executive Order Enforces Second Amendment Protections

The Trump administration has removed a Biden-era public health advisory on gun violence from federal websites as part of President Trump’s executive order to safeguard Second Amendment rights. The advisory, created by former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, was taken down from the Department of Health and Human Services website between March 5 and March 15. This action stems from Trump’s directive to review and identify any federal firearms regulations that potentially infringe on Americans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms, targeting many of the gun safety measures implemented during Biden’s presidency.

The advisory had classified gun violence as a public health crisis and contained data on firearms being the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. It also advocated for controversial measures including banning automatic rifles, implementing universal background checks, and establishing penalties for unsafe firearm storage. These recommendations were viewed by Second Amendment supporters as government overreach against legal gun owners, while gun control advocates praised the public health approach to addressing firearm violence.

White House Emphasizes Law Enforcement Approach

The Trump administration has made it clear that their approach to gun violence differs fundamentally from the previous administration’s public health framework. Instead of treating firearms as a health issue, the current White House is emphasizing law enforcement solutions. A White House spokesperson explained the shift in policy perspective, highlighting President Trump’s commitment to public safety through traditional crime-fighting methods rather than restrictions on legal gun ownership.

“Illegal violence of any sort is a crime issue, and as he again made clear during his recent speech at the Department of Justice, President Trump is committed to Making America Safe Again by empowering law enforcement to uphold law and order,” said White House spokesperson Kush Desai.

The advisory removal comes amid ongoing national debate about gun rights and safety. Former Surgeon General Murthy’s advisory had pointed to statistics showing nearly 47,000 firearm-related deaths in 2023, the majority being suicides. The document had also cited surveys indicating that over half of Americans have experienced a firearm-related incident, and 61% believe it is too easy to legally obtain a gun in the United States, information that is no longer available on federal websites.

Under one of the new mandates from the Trump Administration and in support of gun owners’ rights, a webpage on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on "Firearm Violence in America" has been taken down.https://t.co/L9q3wivRKf

— FOX59 News (@FOX59) March 18, 2025

Contrasting Perspectives on Gun Violence

The removal has intensified the divide between those who view gun violence as a public health issue and those who consider it primarily a law enforcement matter. The National Rifle Association had criticized Murthy’s advisory when it was released, framing it as part of a larger agenda against legal gun ownership. Gun rights advocates have long maintained that there is little correlation between legal gun ownership and gun violence, arguing instead for better enforcement of existing laws rather than additional restrictions.

“This is an extension of the Biden Administration’s war on law-abiding gun owners. America has a crime problem caused by criminals,” said the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Public health experts and violence prevention researchers have expressed concern that removing the advisory represents a step backward. They argue that the public health framework helps depoliticize the issue by focusing on prevention strategies based on data and research. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 had allocated funds specifically for research into the impacts of shootings, and some researchers worry that progress in understanding gun violence through a public health lens could be undermined by the recent policy shift.

Biden-Era Initiatives Undergo Review

The removal of the gun violence advisory is part of a broader effort to reconsider Biden administration policies on firearms. During his presidency, Biden had established the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by then-Vice President Kamala Harris, and signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He had also advocated for increased regulations, including a proposed assault weapons ban and repealing liability protections for gun manufacturers, positions that President Trump and many conservatives opposed.

“When people read gun violence is a public health problem, they read guns are a public health problem. This idea actually removes the politics from the issue and is an engine to get us on the same page. [The removal] feels like an unnecessary and mean-spirited way to politicize something that people have actively been trying to bring people together on,” said Daniel Semenza.

While the advisory has been removed from official government websites, it remains accessible through internet archives. The Trump administration’s actions signal a significant policy reversal that aligns with the President’s campaign promises to protect Second Amendment rights. This development underscores the ongoing national conversation about balancing gun rights with public safety concerns, a debate that continues to divide Americans along political and ideological lines.