The Biden government has unveiled its final plans to broaden the requirement of background checks to individuals purchasing firearms at gun shows or online. This new requirement, they say, will close the so-called ‘gun show loophole.’
Sellers at gun shows and other venues who predominantly offer firearms for purchase will now be required to attain a federal license. The Biden government contends that this would require most independent sellers at gun shows to attain a federal license if they wish to continue selling firearms.
The rule change was made possible by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed by Congress in 2022, which expanded the definition of who qualified as a firearms dealer. Those who now fall under the expanded rule will be required to file for a license under the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and run background checks on all gun purchases. The Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) estimates about 23,000 currently unlicensed firearms dealers will now be mandated to conduct background checks when selling guns — bringing them and their buyers under a greater level of federal scrutiny.
Despite President Joe Biden‘s push for background checks for all firearms sales and purchases, the latest rule change does not mandate ‘universal’ background checks. The enhanced background check requirements will likely face legal challenges. The National Shooting Sports Foundation — a firearm industry trade group — promised it would ask the federal courts to review the rule’s constitutionality earlier this year.