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New Rules for Gun Sales
Last Thursday, the Biden ATF revealed its intention to enhance regulations on gun sales. This initiative comes directly from Senator John Cornyn’s “compromise” legislation, passed last summer.
Implications for Individual Sellers
Under the updated rule, selling even a single firearm for profit, even to relatives, could potentially place individuals under the “Engaged in the Business” category of gun sales.
As a result, they’d be mandated to secure a federal license, conduct background verifications, and fulfill federal gun registration paperwork.
Examples from WhiteHouse.gov:
For example, under the proposed rule, a person would be presumed to be required to become a licensed dealer and run background checks if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Offer for sale any number of firearms and also represents to potential buyers that they are willing and able to purchase and sell them additional firearms;
- Repetitively offer for sale firearms within 30 days after they were purchased;
- Repetitively offer for sale firearms that are like new in their original packaging;
- Repetitively offer for sale multiple firearms of the same make and model; or
- As a formerly federally-licensed firearms dealer, sell firearms that were in the business inventory and not transferred to a personal collection at least a year before the sale, addressing the so-called “fire sale loophole.”
Potential Boost to ATF Gun Registry
Gun Owners of America (GOA) emphasizes that this could augment the ATF’s current gun registry.
Additionally, GOA believes it will impose challenges for private firearm sellers, forcing them to choose between becoming registered gun dealers or undertaking the task of arranging meetings with potential buyers at gun outlets.
Obviously, the latter is not only time-consuming but it is costly due to FFL transfer fees.
Impact of the ‘Zero Tolerance’ Policy
Amidst these changes, the ATF’s recent “Zero Tolerance” stance has reportedly pushed numerous gun dealers to shutter their businesses due to minor clerical errors.
Industry Leaders Weigh In
Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, voiced his apprehension:
“First, they said five guns, but now, anyone who sells a single firearm in a given year and makes even a penny of profit will be subject to dealer requirements, including a background check,” said Pratt.
“People need to realize this is just the next step in the anti-gunners’ longform playbook to enact backdoor universal registration of firearms, and eventually, to confiscate all firearms. They will not stop until that day,” he added.
Aligning with Pratt’s sentiments, Aidan Johnston, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs, spoke on the broader implications.
“This is just the latest consequence of Compromise Cornyn’s gun control law, and sadly, Lord knows more is still on the horizon,” said Johnston. “We urge all lawmakers to defund this rule the upcoming appropriations bill and join us in the fight to repeal this dangerous and unconstitutional legislation with the Congressional Review Act.”
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i ENJOY READING ANYTHING ABOUT NEW HANDGUNS, BUT, I DO NOT LIKE TO AGREE TO COOKIES PUT ON MY COMPUTER BY ANY COMPANY, JUST TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER. IT JUST CREATES CLUTTER FROM ALL DIRECTIONS. i REFUSE TO READ ANY FURTHER WHEN TOLD ” WE USE COOKIES”.
PLEAS S. HOLDER
Once,upon a time not so very long ago, I seem to recall that the ATF was cracking down on table top FFLs for not selling enough guns, contending that they were NOT in the business of selling guns. So what will happen now, these occasional sellers will be forced to get a license and when they don’t sell enough, the ATF will revoke their licenses and seize their inventory of personal weapons?
Great point, maybe Barry Soetoro and the fake POTUS (genuine POS) should be forced to get FFLs for their illegal and reckless trafficking arms to Narco terrorists and the Taliban. And then both arms traffickers should be arrested.
of course the black market won’t be concerned with this law as they are exempt