The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is seeking public comments. Help us narrow loopholes in our background check laws by submitting a comment before the deadline.
EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS
1) Copy the sample comment on this page.
2) Click this button—you’ll be directed to federalregister.gov.
3) Paste your comment into the official form.
THE PROBLEM
Every year, millions of firearms are sold in the United States without a background check, no questions asked.
Only federally licensed firearm dealers are required to conduct a background check—but people can sell guns without being a licensed dealer. That means someone convicted of a violent crime could be turned away from a licensed gun dealer, walk across the street, and buy an AR-15 at a gun show—no questions asked. That makes no sense. If you sell guns for profit, you should be required to run a background check on gun buyers. It’s just common sense.
A new proposed rule would crack down on unlicensed gun sellers and expand background checks to more gun buyers. But first, we need to drive as many public comments of support before the December 7 deadline. The gun lobby will fight tooth and nail to oppose this rule—they want to sell more guns, even to people convicted of domestic abuse or violent felonies. We need to drive as many comments as possible.
ATF counts every comment submitted and takes them into account. The comment period ends on December 7, 2023, at 11:59 pm ET. Copy the sample comment below, click the “submit a comment” button, which directs to federalregister.gov, and paste your comment into the official form.
Sample COmment (COPY THIS)
I support the Biden administration’s rule to expand background checks by clarifying who is engaged in the business of selling firearms. I urge the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to finalize the rule as proposed so that people who sell guns for profit will be required to conduct a background check.
Right now, too many gun sellers are getting away with doing business without running background checks. These are people who are selling a lot of guns through online classifieds, gun shows, and word of mouth. They’re masquerading as hobbyists or collectors. In reality, they’re profiting off our gun violence crisis.
The proposed ATF rule is a step forward in making the background checks loopholes as narrow as possible. I wholly support this rule and urge its immediate adoption.
EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS
1) Copy the sample comment on this page.
2) Click this button—you’ll be directed to federalregister.gov.
3) Paste your comment into the official form.
LEARN MORE
The Case for Expanding Background Checks Through Executive Action
Aug 31, 2023
GIFFORDS Applauds ATF Rule to Expand Background Checks
Aug 31, 2023
Factsheet: Federal Regulation to Expand Background Checks
Aug 31, 2023
TAKE ACTION
Students, veterans, survivors: Americans from all walks of life across the country are standing up for commonsense gun reform. If you’re fed up with politicians who care more about protecting gun lobby profits than your safety, stand with us in this fight.
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