Here’s what you need to know about Biden’s latest gun rules

President Joe Biden’s Administration has proposed new gun rules which could prove to be one of the most significant moves in years to curb firearms violence in the country. 

The proposal comes on the back of a mandate from the president to strengthen firearms background checks following the passing of landmark gun legislation in June of 2022. 

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The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was passed by Congress in part as a reaction to the 2022 Buffalo Shooting and the Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas. 

A portion of the legislation set out to clarify the definition of who could be considered a “federally licensed arms dealer” according to a brief by Senator Sherrod Brown’s office.  

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The legislation aimed at cracking down on criminals who evaded licensing requirements and clarified who needed to register for a license and conduct background checks. 

The Biden Administration's new rule seeks to clarify even further the definition of who is a seller by clarifying some phrases in the original legislation according to the proposal. 

The Associated Press reported that people who sell firearms online or at gun shows and retail stores would be required to have a license and run background checks on buyers. 

The new rules were proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and will define when a person does and doesn’t require a license in order to sell their firearms. 

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Attorney General Merrick Garland commented on the proposed rules and explained in a statement The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was passed to reduce gun violence. 

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Garland said that the intention of the legislation was to expand background checks and keep guns out of the hands of criminals, something the proposed rules would help to do. 

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“This proposed rule implements Congress’s mandate to expand the definition of who must obtain a license and conduct a background check before selling firearms.” the Attorney General said according to Politico. 

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the proposed rules an action that most gun owners wanted to see happen. “It’s just common sense,” she explained. 

“It’s just common sense, because we know that background checks are one of the best tools we have to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals,” Jean-Pierre continued before reiterating Biden’s commitment to responsible gun owners.

“This administration respects the right of responsible gun owners while also believing Americans have the right to live free from gun violence as well,” Jean-Pierre continued. “Those two things can exist.”

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However, the Associated Press (AP) noted one firearms-industry trade group has already raised concerns about the proposed rule changes and added that they could face a court challenge in the future. 

The new rules will affect somewhere between 24,800 and 328,000 sellers in the United States, which is quite a drastic number, even if the changes are only aimed at people involved in the business of selling firearms and not personal collectors, the AP added.