US to end 'gun show loophole' of unlicensed sales
By Graeme Baker
The White House is to close a loophole that allows thousands of firearms to be sold at gun shows and on the internet without federal background checks.
It will classify around 23,000 vendors as licensed firearms dealers, making their gun sales subject to the checks.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said: “If you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be licensed.”
The Biden administration said it expected a court challenge by pro-gun groups, but was confident it would win.
“All of the major actions that the president has taken to reduce gun violence have been challenged,” an administration official said.
“And in court after court, the actions are frequently being upheld. We have confidence that this is legal.”
The National Rifle Association (NRA) said it was preparing to fight the new regulations, and Republican senators have also objected.
Nevertheless,Mr Garland said that the regulation was a “historic step” that would “save lives”. He pointed to federal data showing that illegal or black-market firearms are increasingly being found at shooting scenes.
