The U.S. Justice Department officials announced significant changes to gun regulations on Wednesday, aligning with the preferences of Second Amendment advocates in President Donald Trump’s base.
Gun control activists criticized the revisions as risky and careless, especially in the aftermath of an incident where an individual armed with guns and knives attempted to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner to harm the Republican president.
One of the key adjustments unveiled involved the potential repeal of a 2024 rule under the Biden administration. This rule aimed to mandate additional firearms dealers nationwide to conduct background checks on buyers at gun shows or other non-traditional selling venues, addressing the so-called “gun show loophole” that allowed unlicensed dealers to sell guns without background checks.
Gun advocacy groups and states led by Republicans had legally contested this rule, arguing that it infringed on Second Amendment rights and exceeded President Biden’s authority.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche described these regulatory alterations as the “most extensive reform package ever” by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Blanche emphasized that these changes aimed to align gun regulations with U.S. Supreme Court precedents while easing unnecessary burdens on gun sellers and lawful gun owners.
Blanche stated, “Regulations were previously crafted without a deep understanding of firearms businesses’ operations, lawful gun owners’ practices, or genuine enhancements to public safety.”
The second day of the Republican National Convention focused on U.S. safety, emphasizing border security and immigration, but avoiding the topic of gun control despite an attempted assassination on Donald Trump.
Opponents of the changes accused the administration of pandering to gun rights advocates by relaxing regulations, which they argued would compromise national safety.
John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, stated, “Just four days