John, this is BIG NEWS:
Thanks to a new rule from the Biden Administration, and after the tireless advocacy of our grassroots movement, more gun sales will be subject to background checks—saving lives in communities all across the United States.
The new rule finalized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will require unlicensed gun sellers to become licensed firearms dealers and, in turn, run background checks on their customers.
Background checks keep guns out of the hands of those who cannot and should not have access to them in the first place, and ATF’s rule will help close loopholes in our background check system that have been exploited for decades. And it’s all thanks to the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that Congress passed and President Biden signed into law in 2022 with your help.
This rule comes one week after an ATF report revealed that nearly 41% of gun trafficking cases involved unlicensed gun dealers—underscoring the urgent need for this action.
This new rule is a major step toward closing dangerous loopholes in our background checks system. And we're not stopping here: While we're celebrating progress championed by the Biden Administration, we're going to continue to pressure our lawmakers to pass stronger gun laws that can save lives, like requiring background checks on all gun sales and reinstating a federal ban on assault weapons.
Help us continue our life-saving work to fight for stronger gun laws: Donate today to support Everytown, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action in our mission for a future free from gun violence.
For decades, unlicensed gun sellers have been able to exploit loopholes in our background check system and sell guns, including online and at gun shows, without background checks. That’s because, under federal law, only licensed dealers are required to run background checks.
This new, life-saving rule will make it clear which gun sellers need to become licensed and conduct background checks on their customers.
Thank you for being a part of the movement to end gun violence.
Onward,
Everytown for Gun Safety
