New Administrative Action and Legislation Eighteen Years After Sandy Hook Shooting

Eighteen years after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary, Jennifer Gerson at The 19th reports that the Biden administration announced the formation of the first-ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention. At the Associated Press, Susan Haigh reports that Connecticut’s most wide-ranging gun control measure since the shooting took effect; the legislation bans the open carrying of firearms and prohibits the sale of more than three handguns within 30 days to any one person. PRRI research finds that white Americans are more likely than other race and ethnic groups to have guns in their households (41%), including three in ten (31%) who personally own them.

Chicago Is Keeping Hundreds of Migrants at Airports While Waiting on Shelters and Tents

Sophia Tareen and Melissa Perez Winder for the Associated Press report that in Chicago, hundreds of migrants are currently being housed inside a shuttle bus center at O’Hare International Airport. The city’s two international airports have been used as temporary shelters for migrants arriving by plane, despite the fact that most cities have rejected airports as places to shelter migrants, citing concerns with infrastructure and safety. Over the past year, a majority of the 14,000 immigrants who have arrived in Chicago were transported there from Texas by Gov. Greg Abbott. Many are from Venezuela where at least 7.3 million people have left due to unstable political and socioeconomic conditions.

Major Supreme Court Cases To Watch in the New Term

CNN’s Ariane de Vogue reports that the new Supreme Court term that starts this week will include major cases concerning the intersection between the First Amendment and social media, gun rights, racial gerrymandering, and the power of the executive branch when it comes to regulation. The high court has yet to determine if it will hear arguments on issues such as medication abortion and transgender rights, as well as emergency requests related to the 2024 election. The court’s rulings could impact how the government tackles issues such as climate change, immigration, labor conditions, and public health. PRRI finds that three in four Americans (76%) say there should be a mandatory retirement age for U.S. Supreme Court justices.

Climate Change and NYC: Historic Rains Buckle City’s Infrastructure, Again

Denise Chow and Evan Bush for NBC News report that a severe storm brought more than 7 inches of rain in less than 24 hours in New York City on Friday, turning streets into treacherous rivers and shutting down subway stations. “The reality staring city leaders in the face, including in places like New York, is that the climate is getting more extreme, more unpredictable and requiring more investment,” said Joseph Kane, a Brookings Institution fellow who focuses on infrastructure. This Wednesday, PRRI is releasing a new survey on attitudes toward climate change and how religion impacts Americans’ support for policies to combat climate change. Register here to attend a webinar about the new report.

What’s Buzzing?

Register here for PRRI’s upcoming webinar this Wednesday, October 4th, at 10AM EDT.