Second Amendment advocates are vocally criticizing the Biden administration’s recent enactment of a rule through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) which mandates thousands of additional firearms dealers to conduct background checks on buyers. This move is aimed at closing what has been described as a loophole that permitted a significant number of gun sales annually by unlicensed dealers who bypassed the background check process.
The National Association for Gun Rights has voiced strong opposition to this rule, claiming it virtually eliminates all private firearm sales between individuals. Dudley Brown, the president of the organization, expressed concern over the aggressive enforcement measures the ATF might employ to ensure compliance with the new regulation, citing the Bryan Malinowski case as an example of excessive force.
Similarly, the Second Amendment Institute criticized the ATF for overstepping its authority for political ends, arguing that the rule infringes upon the rights of law-abiding citizens and introduces unnecessary hurdles for those exercising their Second Amendment rights. The Gun Owners of America also accused the Biden administration of utilizing executive actions to intimidate and criminalize gun owners, framing the rule as a backdoor method for universal registration checks.
Alan M. Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, labeled the rule as an extension of what he sees as a broader campaign against gun ownership by the Biden administration. He argued that such measures have historically failed to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms and only serve to burden law-abiding citizens wishing to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
The National Rifle Association has announced it is exploring all available means to oppose this “unlawful rule,” reflecting a widespread sentiment among gun rights organizations. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, representing the industry, hinted at potential legal action against the rule, questioning the ATF’s authority to impose such regulations.
The rule specifies that anyone selling firearms primarily for profit must obtain a federal license and conduct background checks, regardless of the selling platform. This has been a cornerstone of President Biden’s strategy to combat gun violence, aiming to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of felons and domestic abusers. While the administration expects legal challenges, it remains confident that the rule, which garnered over 380,000 public comments, will withstand scrutiny.
This development marks the latest effort by the Biden administration to address gun violence, underlining the ongoing debate between the government’s attempts to enforce gun control measures and Second Amendment advocates’ defense of gun ownership rights.