President Joe Biden and his administration have consistently focused on gun regulations since assuming office. In the summer, Attorney General Merrick Garland endorsed a proposal for a rule modification from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The National Rifle Association (NRA) is currently expressing concern about this suggested alteration.
The ATF’s proposal, labeled as the “Definition of Engaged in the Business as a Dealer in Firearms,” aims to revise the ATF’s regulations to enact the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). This bipartisan firearms legislation received backing from both Republicans and Democrats in 2022.
This legislation marked the most substantial gun-control measure in nearly thirty years. The president successfully navigated through the partisan challenges in Washington to secure its passage. Despite this achievement, he has pursued additional regulatory measures, utilizing the law as a means to implement further changes.
The suggested rule advises adopting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act’s (BSCA) definition of “predominantly earn a profit.” Additionally, the proposed rule aims to revise the definitions of “engaged in the business” to provide clarity and broaden the criteria for identifying when an individual qualifies as a firearms dealer.
Furthermore, the rule integrates the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act’s (BSCA) definition of “dealer,” encompassing individuals who engage in the sale of firearms for various forms of profit, such as services rendered or personal property, thereby extending the scope beyond those who solely transact in cash.
The NRA criticized the Biden Administration and the ATF, asserting that the proposed rule might unfairly subject Americans to criminalization.
Kozuch continued, claiming that the regulation seriously confuses legitimate gun owners who often buy and sell firearms for various purposes, including self-defense, and that it flagrantly ignores the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen ruling.
