President Biden on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at combating gun violence by restricting new firearm technology and helping students address the trauma caused by active shooter drills in schools.

The executive order will target 3D-printed guns that do not have serial numbers and devices that convert semiautomatic firearms into rapid-fire guns similar to machine guns.

The order also creates a new task force that will issue a report in 90 days on federal law enforcement’s ability to detect and seize the rapid-fire devices, as well as outline a strategy to combat the threat they pose.

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It allocates $135 million to states to expand so-called red flag laws in which a gun can be removed from someone who is deemed a danger to themselves or others. The order also proposes so-called enhanced background checks for buyers aged 18 to 20.

“We have to do more, but the steps we’ve taken so far in reducing gun violence and saving lives are real, but we have to keep going,” Mr. Biden said. “There’s so much more we have to do.” 

Vice President Kamala Harris bemoaned what she called “an epidemic of gun violence” in America, saying everyone has the right to worship, learn and work without fear of being shot.

Gun control groups supported the measures. 

“Machine gun conversion devices and 3D-printed guns represent a major and growing threat to American communities. These new approaches and investments, paired with additional support for community violence intervention programs and red flag laws will save lives,” said former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a victim of gun violence who founded the gun control group bearing her last name.

The actions coincide with the anniversary of Mr. Biden’s creation of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which looks for ways to combat gun violence without going through Congress.

It also comes against the backdrop of several high-profile mass shootings. Earlier this month, a 14-year-old suspect allegedly shot 11 people, killing four during a rampage at a suburban Atlanta high school. This week, multiple shooters opened fire in Birmingham, Alabama’s entertainment district, killing four and injuring 17 others.

To reduce the potential trauma inflicted on children by active shooter drills in schools, which have ratcheted up in recent years, Mr. Biden will direct several federal agencies, including the Department of Education, Homeland Security and Surgeon General, to issue a report in 110 days about how to implement drills.

“There’s very limited research on how to design and deploy these drills to maximize their effectiveness and minimize collateral harms they might cause,” Stef Feldman, director of the White House Office for Gun Violence Prevention, told reporters.

Gun rights activists called the orders a meaningless gesture that doesn’t do anything to solve gun violence.

“Biden again resorts to symbolism over substance. His policies do nothing to stop violent criminals from making us less safe. It is time to fund our police and end cashless bail. This is another distraction from solving the real problem,” said Alan Gottlieb, president of the Second Amendment Foundation. 

Thursday’s executive orders cement Mr. Biden’s legacy as a crusader against gun violence, though their impact on reducing the number of shootings in America is uncertain. Combating gun violence has been a priority for Mr. Biden. He has issued more executive actions on the issue than any previous president and, in 2022, helped Congress pass the first gun legislation in 30 years.