Staff Reports
On Sunday, a federal judge in Texas stopped the Biden administration from enforcing its new gun background check rule in the Lone Star State. This rule was set to go into effect on Monday and intended to close the so-called “gun show loophole,” which would have required dealers selling guns for a profit to be licensed and to conduct background checks on buyers. The judge, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, agreed with the plaintiffs that the rule violated a 2022 law and granted a temporary injunction specifically for Texas.
Texas judge blocks Biden ATF rule expanding gun background checks https://t.co/Ec5W2PnOCW
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 20, 2024
The Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, who challenged the Biden administration rule, expressed relief at the decision. The challenge also had support from the Gun Owners of America, a group that advocates for Second Amendment rights. According to the plaintiffs, the rule was in violation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 and the Second Amendment. The judge did not rule on the constitutional claim but agreed that it conflicted with the 2022 law.
The restraining order only applies to Texas, as the judge found that other states lacked standing to bring the challenge in Texas. However, the ruling does extend to members of the Gun Owners Foundation, the Tennessee Firearms Association, and the Virginia Citizens Defense League. The Gun Owners Foundation board expressed their pleasure with the decision and their readiness to continue the fight moving forward.
This ruling comes just days after former President Trump spoke at a National Rifle Association event and promised to undo gun regulations put in place under President Biden. A spokesman for the Biden campaign criticized Trump’s associations with the NRA, accusing him of prioritizing the interests of the NRA over public safety.
Overall, this ruling is a victory for gun rights advocates and reflects a pushback against the Biden administration’s efforts to tighten gun regulations.
