Firearm dealers will be required by the Biden Administration to run background checks on buyers who purchase firearms from gun shows or other places that are not actual stores. The rule also applies to online sales and even between private persons.
The Biden Administration says it has the authority to expand this curtailment of constitutional rights because of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was supported and voted for by Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Sen. Dan Sullivan voted against it.
In response to the announcement, Senate Republicans will introduce a bill to repeal the Biden rule that was announced by the Department of Justice on Wednesday, which vastly expands required federal background checks. Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina will introduce legislation to repeal the rule.
The Biden rule says that “even a single firearm transaction may be sufficient to require a license, if there is other behavior to suggest commercial activity. For example, a person selling just one gun and then saying to others they are willing and able to purchase more firearms for resale may be required to obtain a license and run background checks,” according to the White House.
“This is going to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and felons,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “And my administration is going to continue to do everything we possibly can to save lives. Congress needs to finish the job and pass universal background checks legislation now.”
Executors of estates or personal representatives of estates will have to get federal firearms licenses under the new rule.
“From the outset, this bill was a compromise measure, spearheaded by a bipartisan group of 20 of my Senate colleagues. I join them in their commitment to showing the public that Congress knows the status quo on gun violence is not acceptable—that we can do more for school safety, for the safety of our communities, and to address the growing mental health crisis in this country,” said Sen. Murkowski after voting in favor of the bill in 2022. “This legislation emphasizes and provides additional funding for mental health and school safety programs to help ensure that kids and people of all ages are better protected. As a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and a gun owner myself, it was essential to ensure that this legislation not violate the rights of law-abiding gun owners. It does not. While this legislation is not perfect, it is a responsive, responsible, and targeted approach to address the very serious mass shooting and gun violence incidents this country continues to face.”
