New ATF Rule Would Require Gun Sellers to Have Federal Firearms License - Articles

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New ATF Rule Would Require Gun Sellers to Have Federal Firearms License

Posted by: Julia Wilburn on May 7, 2024

A new federal rule would close what many have termed the "gun show loophole," but a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 21 state attorneys general, including Tennessee's Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, could overturn it. The Daily Memphian reports that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced its “Final Rule 2022R-17F” in April, which is due to take effect later this month. It essentially updates the definition of a firearms dealer to ensure that almost all such sellers must have a federal firearms license, and therefore conduct background checks on all gun buyers. ATF officials stated that the new rule does not apply to certain sellers — such as someone who sells a gun to a family member or a person who engages in occasional sales as a hobbyist — but the lawsuit from the attorneys general disputes that claim. Skrmetti says the law places too heavy a regulatory burden on individuals “who occasionally sell or trade a firearm.”