More than twenty Republican state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against the Biden administration to block a new regulation requiring gun dealers to obtain licenses and conduct background checks for firearm sales at gun shows and online.
The contested rule, finalized recently, aims to close the “gun show loophole,” subjecting sellers in various venues to the same background check requirements as traditional gun stores.
According to officials from the U.S. Justice Department, the regulation is expected to impact tens of thousands of gun sales annually.
President Joe Biden has advocated for universal background check legislation and a ban on assault-style rifles, although such proposals face opposition from Republican lawmakers, who argue they infringe upon Second Amendment rights.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spearheaded one lawsuit, alleging that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives overstepped its authority in enacting the new rule.
Paxton emphasized the defense of constitutionally protected freedoms against perceived federal overreach.
Joining Texas in the legal action are Louisiana, Missouri, and Utah, alongside gun rights advocacy groups like Gun Owners of America.
Their case was filed in a federal court in Amarillo, Texas, presided over by Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee known for conservative leanings.
A second lawsuit, led by Arkansas and Kansas and joined by nineteen other states, was filed in Arkansas. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a separate complaint in a federal court in Tampa.
The legal challenges highlight an enduring ideological divide over gun control measures, with Republican attorneys general positioning themselves against federal regulations aimed at tightening gun sale procedures.
