Tillis says ‘partisan hacks’ went too far with Biden’s new gun dealer rule change

[RAY BOGAN]

The Biden administration is implementing a new rule that will significantly increase the number of gun sales subject to background checks. The change is part of the administration’s larger effort to tighten gun laws. 

According to the Department of Justice, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 gave them the authority to expand the definition of engaging in the business of firearms dealing to cover all persons who devote time, attention, and labor to dealing in firearms as a regular course of trade or business to predominately earn a profit through the repetitive purchase and sale of firearms. 

This new rule will require everyone who fits in that category to register as a licensed firearm dealer and therefore conduct background checks when they sell a weapon. 

[MERRICK GARLAND]

“Under this regulation, it will not matter if guns are sold on the internet, at a gun show, or at a brick-and-mortar store: if you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be licensed, and you must conduct background checks,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in statement. 

[RAY BOGAN]

The DOJ estimates there are over 20,000 unlicensed sellers who will need to register under the new rule. 

Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in the wake of mass shootings including Uvalde, Buffalo, Santa Fe and Parkland. In the Senate, 15 Republicans joined with every Democrat to get the controversial bill over the finish line. 

One Republican who helped pass the bill is not happy with the change and said it goes too far. 

[THOM TILLIS]

“When you have partisan hacks in the Biden administration go as far as they did with this bill, now you understand why Second Amendment bills only happen once in a generation,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. told reporters. “I understand that there are people engaged in the business, and they should be held to the same standards that gun dealers are in terms of background checks, it simply went too far.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

Although Democrats who voted for the law also support this move.

[MARK WARNER]

“I’m glad to see this law take another concrete step forward and close a loophole that allowed some individuals to attain firearms without a background check,” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a statement. “This is another key step forward to preventing needless violence and making our communities safer.”

[RAY BOGAN]

President Biden wants to implement universal background checks but has not been able to get such a measure pushed through Congress. Both sides believe second amendment issues like this one will impact voters in the November elections. 

[JOHN THUNE]

“They’re going to do anything they can, they’re going to have a very anti-Second Amendment approach and policies that reflect that,” Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told SAN. “So I don’t think any of that comes as a big surprise. Which is, you know, why elections matter.”