Biden Administration to Close 'Gun Show Loophole,' Classifying 23,000 Vendors as Licensed Dealers and Requiring Background Checks
The Biden administration plans to end the "gun show loophole" by classifying approximately 23,000 gun vendors as licensed firearms dealers, requiring them to conduct background checks on sales.
This change will affect gun sales at shows and online.
Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that those who sell guns primarily for profit must be licensed.
The administration anticipates a legal challenge from pro-gun groups but is confident in their position.
The president's previous actions to reduce gun violence have also faced challenges.
The Biden administration has implemented new regulations requiring background checks for all firearm sales and transfers, including those conducted at gun shows and online.
The NRA and Republican senators have objected, but the regulations have been upheld in court.
Garland, the Attorney General, views this as a historic step to save lives as illegal firearms are frequently used in shooting scenes.
Unlicensed gun dealers have been allowed to make unverified sales for too long, according to Vice-President Harris.
Biden has urged Congress to pass universal background check legislation.
The "gun show loophole" closure, which expands background check requirements for firearm sales, will take effect 30 days after being published in the federal registry.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, which passed with Republican and Democratic support following mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, solidified who and what is considered a firearm dealer, enabling the expansion.