The Biden administration is set to implement a new rule requiring thousands of firearms dealers in the United States to conduct background checks on buyers at gun shows and other locations outside traditional stores.
This move aims to close a loophole that has allowed unlicensed dealers to sell tens of thousands of guns annually without performing background checks, potentially enabling prohibited individuals to obtain firearms. Gun rights groups are expected to challenge the rule in court.
Gun Violence (Credits: Amnesty International)
President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of this rule in preventing guns from falling into the hands of domestic abusers and felons, urging Congress to pass universal background check legislation.
The rule mandates that sellers primarily engaged in firearm sales for profit must be federally licensed and conduct background checks, regardless of where they sell firearms.
The administration’s efforts to curb gun violence also include creating the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and calling for a ban on assault weapons.
A Gun (Credits: The Yonkers Ledger)
The new regulation is seen as addressing a huge gap in the federal background check system and is expected to spare families and communities from the devastating impact of gun violence.
Gun rights activists, including the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America, have criticized the rule as unfairly targeting gun owners and have vowed to challenge it in court. However, administration officials are confident that the rule, which received over 380,000 public comments, will withstand legal challenges.
The rule expands the definition of who is “engaged in the business” of selling firearms, requiring them to obtain a federal license and conduct background checks. This change aims to bring legitimate sellers under regulatory oversight and prevent brokers facilitating criminal gun sales from exploiting legal loopholes.
The administration believes that more than 20,000 dealers who previously sold firearms without a license and avoided background checks will be impacted by the new rule, enhancing public safety and fairness in the firearms market.
While Republican senators have expressed concerns about potential overreach by the ATF, the administration views this rule as a crucial step in combatting illegal firearm trafficking and preventing gun-related crimes.
