News Local/State

NIU President Advises VP Biden’s Gun Task Force

By The Associated Press
 

Northern Illinois University President John Peters has provided input to Vice President Joe Biden's task force on reducing gun violence.

Peters was president of NIU when a gunman opened fire in a lecture hall in February 2008, killing five students and injuring many more before killing himself. The Daily Chronicle reports that Peters is following the task force's activities.

The school said in a statement that Peters is "supportive of a holistic public policy approach to reducing gun violence." That would include enhanced licensing and registration regulations, appropriate data sharing and mental health policies and issues.

President Barack Obama asked Biden to lead a task force after the December massacre in Newtown, Conn. that killed 27 people, most of them kindergarteners.