Staff Reports
In a move that challenges the Biden administration, twenty-six Republican attorneys general have filed lawsuits in federal court to block a recent rule that requires firearms dealers at gun shows and other events to conduct background checks on potential buyers. These lawsuits were filed in Arkansas, Florida, and Texas, opposing the rule that was announced last month. The aim of the rule is to close a loophole that allows unlicensed dealers to sell tens of thousands of guns annually without conducting background checks on buyers.
The attorneys general argue that this new rule infringes upon the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and that President Biden lacks the authority to enforce it. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin emphasized that this legal action is necessary to remind President Biden that he must adhere to the law, emphasizing that Congress has never passed such a significant expansion of firearms dealer license requirements.
26 Republican AGs sue to block Biden rule requiring background checks at gun showshttps://t.co/TGeduCqqIp pic.twitter.com/3AMyv8Z8DH
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 2, 2024
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Department of Justice, declined to comment on the lawsuits. However, Biden administration officials have expressed confidence that the rule, which received over 380,000 public comments, will withstand legal challenges.
This lawsuit and the potential court battle are anticipated to ignite passions on both sides of the political spectrum, appealing to GOP voters who seek fewer restrictions on guns and Democrats who advocate for stricter gun regulations. Gun control advocates have long pushed for closing the “gun show loophole” and have lauded the new rule on background checks, expressing the belief that it brings the nation closer to a future free from gun violence.
As President Biden’s efforts to address gun violence continue to take center stage in his administration, the legal battle surrounding this rule may shape the discourse leading up to the 2024 presidential campaign. The issue highlights the ongoing debate between those who seek to curb gun violence and those who value their Second Amendment rights, reflecting the deeply divided nature of American politics.
