President Joe Biden announced new efforts Wednesday to stem a rising national tide of violent crime but questions persist about how effective the federal efforts will be in calming what could be a turbulent summer. Biden spoke at the White House, announcing a plan that focuses on addressing gun violence, providing money to cities that need more police and offering community support. Crime rates have risen after plummeting during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, creating economic hardship and anxiety. The steps he is taking are aimed at cracking down on gun dealers who break federal law and establishing strike forces in several cities to help stop weapons trafficking. Biden emphasized there will be "zero tolerance for gun dealers who willfully violate existing laws and regulations." "We'll find you and we will seek your license to sell guns. We'll make sure you can't sell death and mayhem on our streets," he said. The president is also seeking more money for the agency that tracks the nation's guns. But the rest of his new strategy is largely suggestions for beleaguered localities. He's encouraging cities to invest some of their COVID-19 relief funds into policing and pushing alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers. If city officials listen to the White House, it could make an impact. But it's all voluntary. The president has already announced a half-dozen executive actions on gun control, including cracking down on “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and that are often purchased without a background check. Biden will also seek increased transparency on gun data and better coordination among states, and he will push Congress for more money for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the agency responsible for enforcing federal gun laws and regulating gun dealers. "Folks, this shouldn't be a red or blue issue, it's an American issue. We're not changing the Constitution. We're enforcing it, being reasonable. We're taking on the bad actors, doing bad and dangerous things in our communities and our country," Biden said.