On Thursday the Biden administration proposed a rule intended to curb the issue of gun violence in the US. The new rule requires that the people selling firearms at gun shows and on the internet conduct a background check on potential buyers before selling it to them.This proposal comes after President Joe Biden signed into law the first major federal gun safety legislation passed in decades, a little more than a year ago. This law was expanded so that sellers are required to run background checks before making a sale.More on Bidens new gun law The detailed rules were released by the Justice Department and aim to check the gaps in between the law which has till now permitted gun sellers to escape from obtaining a license by stating that they did not make any money from transactions or stating that their insignificant sales volume and lack of a storefront have exempted them from dealer requirements.Earlier certain private individuals could exempt themselves from background checks which according to the rule will no longer be implemented. Moreover, People who sell firearms online or at gun shows would be required to be licensed and run background checks on the buyers before the sale, under the rule proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.“An increasing number of individuals engaged in the business of selling firearms for profit have chosen not to register as federal firearms licensees, as required by law,” Steven Dettelbach, the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said Steven Dettelbach, director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in a statement.DOJ Proposes New Regulation to Update Definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Firearms DealerProposed Rule Seeks to Implement Provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act & Provide Clarity on Who Must Obtain a License & Run Background Checkshttps://t.co/zK2Rl9ZyJx— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) August 31, 2023Personal Collectors can carry on with their hobby This rule mostly looks into the people who are in the business of gun sales, rather than those dealing with their personal collections.The justice department said in the release that those who are genuine hobbyists and collectors who may want to enhance and liquidate their collections without fear of violating the law may continue to do so as there will not be any background checks on them.The rule will be open for public comment after 90 days. It was not immediately clear when it might become final.Vice President Kamala Harris also applauded the rule and called for lawmakers to take further steps to reduce gun violence.“Congress must pass legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe gun storage, end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers, and require background checks on all gun sales—even those by gun dealers who are not registered,” she said in a statement Thursday.
