WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Aimed at closing the so-called "gun show loophole," the rule
clarifies what it means to be "engaged in the business," so that
those selling weapons at gun shows, other venues and online will
face the same requirements as gun stores to check the
backgrounds of would-be buyers.
BY THE NUMBERS
An estimated 23,000 individuals are engaged in unlicensed gun
dealing in the United States, and the rule will impact tens of
thousands of gun sales per year, a White House official said.
The number of children killed by guns in the U.S. hit a high in
2021, mass shootings have surged in recent years and the country
overall has much higher rates of gun death than other wealthy
nations.
KEY QUOTE
"Under this regulation, it will not matter if guns are sold on
the internet, at a gun show, or at a brick-and-mortar store. If
you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be
licensed, and you must conduct background checks," U.S. Attorney
General Merrick Garland said.
CONTEXT
The Justice Department proposed the rule in August and invited
the public to comment. It was submitted to the Federal Register
on Tuesday and will be published soon, with the rule taking
effect 30 days after its publication.
Although it will increase the number of background checks, the
rule does not constitute a universal background check. Certain
firearms transfers, including those among family members, will
still be allowed without a background check.
U.S. lawmakers passed a federal gun reform law in June 2022
following a string of mass shootings and days after a Supreme
Court decision that expanded firearm owners' rights.
In March 2023, President Joe Biden issued an executive order
aimed at expanding background checks for gun purchases and asked
Congress to take additional action to reduce gun violence.
WHAT'S NEXT
Gun rights groups are likely to challenge the rule in court.
(Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Heather Timmons and
Rosalba O'Brien)
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