A wave of lawsuits from 26 states is targeting a controversial rule pushed by Democrat President Joe Biden’s administration that could change the landscape of gun sales across the United States.
On May 1, a coalition of attorneys general filed federal lawsuits challenging a rule mandating criminal background checks for all gun transactions, a significant redefinition by the Biden administration set to begin on May 10, The Epoch Times reported.
Through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Biden admin introduced a new rule redefining what it means to be “engaged in the business” of selling firearms.
This rule, signed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on April 10, extends the requirement for criminal background checks to include almost all types of gun sales, including private transactions.
Historically, the definition focused on those who sell firearms as a means of livelihood.
However, the new regulation interprets this as anyone predominantly trading guns for profit, stemming from changes initiated by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) signed last year.
The lawsuits argue that this expansion oversteps the intended scope of the BSCA and infringes on Second Amendment rights.
They contend that it effectively implements universal background checks via