The Biden administration has taken a significant step in the fight against gun violence by approving the broadest expansion of federal background checks in decades. This move aims to regulate the fast-growing shadow market of weapons sold online, at gun shows, and through private sellers, which has been linked to an increase in gun violence.
Under the new rule released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, anyone “engaged in the business” of selling guns for profit will be required to register as a federally licensed firearms dealer. This means that these sellers must conduct background criminal and mental health checks on potential buyers. The regulation is expected to add as many as 23,000 federal dealers to the 80,000 already regulated by the A.T.F.
President Biden, who has been blocked by Republicans in Congress from enacting universal background checks, is using a provision of a bipartisan gun control law passed in 2022 to close the so-called gun show loophole. This loophole has allowed unlicensed private sellers in many states to legally sell guns without conducting background checks, contributing to illegal gun sales.
Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the importance of the new regulation, stating that it addresses a significant gap in the federal background check system. The administration believes that the rule will help prevent gun violence and save lives by holding sellers accountable and preventing criminals from obtaining firearms through legal loopholes.
While the new regulation is likely to face legal challenges, officials are confident in its solid legal footing. The administration has been working to deliver on its policy promises, especially on issues like gun violence, where legislative action is unlikely in a divided Congress. The new rule is seen as a significant achievement in the administration’s efforts to combat illegal firearms and protect communities from the devastating impact of gun violence.
