NRA Condemns Biden Administration's Firearms Background Check Proposal

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has strongly criticized the Biden administration's proposed rule that would require more background checks for firearms purchases, deeming it as yet another attack on law-abiding gun owners.

Last year, President Biden signed a significant gun control bill, incentivizing states to pass red flag laws and expand background checks for 18- to 21-year-olds.

However, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently proposed a rule that would mandate federally licensed sellers to conduct background checks on buyers before completing transactions, particularly when firearms are sold online or at gun shows.

This proposal comes in response to President Biden's executive order to Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging the development and implementation of a plan to clarify the definition of individuals engaged in the firearms sales business.

Randy Kozuch, Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), strongly criticized the Biden administration's actions, stating that it is a clear campaign to attack law-abiding gun owners.

Kozuch further emphasized that the passage of the Bipartisan 'Safer Communities' Act now serves as a pretext to impose restrictions on exercising the constitutional right to bear arms.

He warns legislators that when gun controllers are provided with any legislative tool, even apparently benign ones, they will utilize it to undermine the Second Amendment.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's prioritization, Kozuch criticized their focus on interfering with Americans' freedoms rather than addressing the surge in violent crime perpetrated by criminals.

According to ATF Director Steve Dettelbach, the proposed rule aims to target individuals engaging in firearms sales without registering as federal firearms licensees, thereby engaging in illicit off-the-books transactions.

The Associated Press reported that this rule could affect a wide range of sellers, estimated between 24,500 and 328,000, who are involved in the business of selling firearms rather than maintaining personal gun collections.

An AP-NORC poll conducted in August 2023 revealed that nearly two-thirds of the general public support stricter gun laws, while only a third of Republicans share this sentiment.

The same poll highlighted that over three-quarters of respondents consider preventing mass shootings and reducing gun violence as important, with many believing that restricting gun access would lead to fewer incidents of mass shootings, murders, and violent crimes.

However, the poll revealed that Republicans remain unconvinced that limiting gun access would effectively reduce mass shootings and violent crime.

Gun rights groups such as the NRA claim that the proposed rule will have minimal impact on reducing gun violence, and they have consistently challenged ATF rule changes that they believe infringe upon Americans' Second Amendment rights.

In their continued efforts, these advocates have promptly filed lawsuits against the ATF in response to various rule changes.

The NRA's strong condemnation of the Biden administration's firearms background check proposal underscores the ongoing debate surrounding gun control measures and further stokes the fire of Second Amendment defenders.

As public opinion remains divided on the issue, the outcome of this proposed rule and its potential impact on gun ownership will undoubtedly continue to be fiercely contested.