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They urged him to maintain the controls that have previously prevented a release of these files, citing the urgent need to prevent further printing of these untraceable firearms.
A copy of the letter is below.
President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden:
As members of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, we write to urge you to take swift action to prevent the online publication of dangerous files that enable at-home 3D printing of firearms. This issue has become very time sensitive following the April 27 decision by two members of a Ninth Circuit panel which lifted a district court injunction on the finalization of dangerous Trump-era regulations. If that decision is allowed to take effect as written, which could happen within a few weeks of this writing, strong State Department protections against the publication of those files will be lifted, and we could immediately see widespread at-home production of firearms. We urge you to act swiftly to retain the strong State Department controls to avert this potential public safety disaster.
The publication of those 3D-printing files qualifies as exports of “technical data” associated with small arms and are currently on the U.S. Munitions List (“USML”) and subject to strong State Department regulations. The Trump State Department recklessly sought to remove most small arms exports from the USML and finalized regulations in January 2020 to transfer responsibility over those exports to the Commerce Department, which does not have the experience or regulations in place to supervise the export or prevent publication of 3D-printing files.
Attorneys general in 22 states and Washington, DC have been in court working to prevent the finalization of those rules as they apply to 3D-printing files, and a district court injunction has been in place since March of last year. Absent further litigation, the new Ninth Circuit decision will lift that injunction within a matter of weeks and technical data will be removed from the USML and supervision of the State Department, allowing the files to be immediately published, downloaded, and used to produce illegal guns.
The best and most effective action would be to reverse the Trump State Department’s regulations and keep the technical data on the USML. The State Department should issue a new interim final rule that retains this technical data. All small arms exports belong under the State Department’s jurisdiction and should be subject to the Congressional oversight required under the USML, which can properly supervise controls protecting human rights and national security. If your Administration chooses not to reverse those State Department regulations, we urge you to strengthen the Commerce Department regulation’s with a new interim final rule that prevents the spread of the dangerous technical data for 3D printed firearms.
The urgency of this issue can hardly be overstated. Unlike many regulatory changes, the effect of allowing this publication cannot be reversed. Once these files are widely available online, they can be downloaded by millions of users. We applaud your April 8, 2021 executive actions on ghost guns, and urge you to also move quickly to prevent the release of 3D-printed firearm information that could be used by criminals to make untraceable firearms. Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Leaders from both cities said planning is now underway.
There are still some unknowns about what many events in the coming summer and fall months may look like.
That’s because rules could change more once California fully reopens — which is still on track to take place on June 15 — at which time the state’s COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy is expected to end.
In the city of Clearlake, city leaders said they’re now putting together plans for the Independence Day celebration.
Last year, Clearlake conducted a drive-in July 4 celebration last year, but without the parade and the festival.
This year, however, the city’s festivities, which will be held on Saturday, July 3, will once again include the parade, a classic car show at Austin Park and a Carnival, along with the evening fireworks.
They’re also planning a Saturday evening concert at the new Austin Park bandshell, ahead of the fireworks display. The bands to perform are still being determined, said Deputy City Clerk Tina Viramontes.
On the other side of the lake, the city of Lakeport is preparing for the summer events that the pandemic caused to be canceled in 2020.
The Lakeport City Council last month directed staff to process summer event applications in collaboration with Lake County Public Health.
City Manager Kevin Ingram said that means that summer events canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic may be back on the calendar for 2021.
However, he said some of the events may look a little different with COVID-19 prevention measures in place, including masking, social distancing and using available hand-washing stations.
In addition to giving staff the go-ahead to process events, the Lakeport City Council at its April 20 meeting approved the Lake County Farmers’ Finest downtown farmers markets on Tuesdays, which start this week in Library Park, and the city’s July 4 celebration, which was canceled in 2020.
Ingram said that staff believes that many of the summer events that Lakeport has been known for can still be held if additional changes are adhered to and that they’re confident they can appropriately review event applications.
At the same time, Ingram said the state’s guidance doesn’t always address the kinds of events the city has, specifically, large events that are unticketed and held in open spaces.
Ingram said when it comes down to enforcing safety measures, the city will be heavily dependent on event organizers and people doing the right thing.
“It’s really nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel and think about some of these events happening for us,” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina.
Lakeport’s July 4 celebration will return with the big fireworks display, which didn’t take place last year. Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. of McClellan will provide the show for $21,500, up by about $1,000 from the cost of the last show in 2019, the city reported.
In order to ensure enough space in the downtown — which in years past had been crowded with several thousand people — Ingram said they are considering having the fireworks barge move toward Fifth Street, north of its usual spot, to broaden the viewing area.
This year they’re also prohibiting alcohol sales as a measure of making sure people adhere to social distancing and masking, and as an effort to keep down the number of fights that police often have to respond to during the event.
Ingram cautioned that, “It’s not going to be the same as it has been in the past,” but that it’s the start to getting back to normal.
At its meeting Tuesday, the council is expected to approve event applications for the Memorial Day Parade on May 29 and the Home Amateur Winemakers WineFest on Sept. 18.
Community groups make decisions about events
While California is moving toward reopening, the timing of planning and organizing events has challenged a return to a more recognizable schedule for some county groups.
Last week, the Lake County Fair Board voted to hold the fair this year over Labor Day weekend, as Lake County News has reported. Details of the fair are being developed over the coming months but anticipated modifications could include smaller crowd size.
However, for other groups, events have had to once again be postponed or canceled for the year because of either lack of time to plan or the necessary funding.
At the start of April, the Kelseyville Business Association announced it would not hold the June Beer, Wine and Swine Festival or the Kelseyville Pear Festival in September, but they’re hoping to hold their summer street dances and Christmas in the Country.
For the association, fundraising — the Pear Festival costs tens of thousands of dollars — and planning for the event would have had to be underway months earlier, while the pandemic was still surging and the situation was unclear of when events could again go forward.
Last year, the Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Business Association was one of the first groups in Lake County to have to cancel a major event when it at first postponed and then canceled its famed May Catfish Derby.
However, with the Catfish Derby being the association’s one and only annual fundraiser, last year’s cancellation is impacting this year’s event plans, said association President Camille Gouldberg.
Goldberg said they are planning for the Catfish Derby this month — and they are expecting a nice turnout — but they don’t have sufficient funds to sponsor the Maxine Sherman fireworks display, which will be canceled for a second year.
Dennis Locke, a stalwart member of the Catfish Derby team, said they’re working hard to get the derby together. It’s scheduled to take place from May 14 to 16.
He said they’ve scaled things back to just fishing and won’t be doing some of the other aspects that usually bring a lot of people together.
“We were expecting a light turnout because of that. But advance sign-ups have actually been higher than usual so maybe we’ll see something near normal. People are ready to get out, I guess,” Locke said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 6, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The public may attend, however, the council chambers will have limited capacity and attendees must adhere to masking and social distancing mandates.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 6.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
The council will host a swearing-in of new police department employees and a presentation of police department employee awards, and present proclamations declaring May 9 to 15 as Police Week and May 2 to 8 as Public Employee Appreciation Week, and May as Military Appreciation Month and Older Americans Month.
On Thursday the council will receive a presentation and hold a discussion with Woodland College regarding a promise program for Clearlake students.
The council will consider a $335,048 contract with Pavement Coatings for the 2021 Chip Seal Project.
Mayor Dirk Slooten will announce the city’s appointment to the county’s Visioning Forum Planning Committee.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes of the April 15 meeting; continuation of declaration of local emergency Issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action on March 19, 2020; consideration of development agreement DA-2021-01 with Chandra Martinez for a commercial cannabis operation; approval of the second reading of the amendment to Clearlake Municipal Code Section 3-4 Purchasing and Sales; adoption of a resolution to continue city participation in the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority; and adoption of the 14th Amendment to the FY 2020-25 Budget (Resolution 2020-27) appropriating funding for the 2021 Chip Seal Project, Resolution No. 2021-26.
The council will hold a closed session following the public portion of the meeting to discuss labor negotiations with the Clearlake Municipal Employees Association, Clearlake Police Officers Association and Clearlake Middle Management Association.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Launched by Mental Health America in 1949, this is the most highly-recognized mental health awareness event in the United States.
Last year, Mental Health Awareness Month media and materials were used and seen by over 230 million Americans.
This past year has presented myriad obstacles and challenges that have truly tested the community’s resilience and strength.
The global pandemic forced people to cope with unimaginable situations, leaving many of them struggling with their mental health.
The good news is there are tools and resources available to support the well-being of individuals and communities.
Now, more than ever, it’s important to combat the stigma surrounding mental health.
That’s why Lake County Behavioral Health Services is highlighting #Tools2Thrive, what individuals can do throughout their daily lives to prioritize mental health, gain resiliency, and continue to cope with whatever life throws our way.
This month, Lake County Behavioral Health Services is focusing on how a healthy lifestyle may help prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, anxiety and depression, along with physical health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Managing stress, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising can go a long way in making one both mentally and physically healthy.
When you or a loved one is grappling with a mental health concern, sometimes it is a lot to handle.
“Mental health is essential and critical to one’s overall health and well-being,” said Todd Metcalf, director of Lake County Behavioral Health Services. “Mental illnesses are common and treatable.”
The staff at Lake County Behavioral Health Services wants everyone to know mental illnesses are real, and recovery is always the goal.
Living a healthy lifestyle may not always be easy, but taking a look at one’s overall health every day — both mentally and physically — helps ensure a focus on fitness.
By developing your own #Tools2Thrive, you can find a balance between life’s ups and downs and successfully cope with issues and challenges brought on by the pandemic and other stressors.
For more information, please contact Lake County Behavioral Health Services at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.