Louisiana attorney general files lawsuit over new federal rules on private gun sales
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives over new rules banning private firearm sales.
Louisiana, along with Texas, Mississippi and Utah, are suing after the Biden administration announced a new rule that reduces the number of firearms sold without background checks on Thursday, April 11. The suit was filed Wednesday, May 1, in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in April that the new rule says anyone who sells guns mostly for profit will have to have a federal license and conduct background checks on buyers. This applies to gun shows, online sales and stores.
“These new rules clearly violate the Second Amendment. The Biden administration continues to recklessly attack our constitutional rights. Louisiana will challenge them every step of the way,” said Murrill.
Louisiana bill advances to ban permitless concealed carrying at parades
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which expands background checks, was signed into law in 2022 by Biden. An executive order was signed by Biden in 2023 “to accelerate implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.”
“I’ve spent hours with families who’ve lost loved ones to gun violence,” Biden said in a statement. “They all have the same message: ‘Do something.’ Today, my Administration is taking action to make sure fewer guns are sold without background checks. This is going to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and felons.”
According to the White House, the Department of Justice’s final rule implements the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, making it clear when a person needs to become a licensed dealer and run background checks.
Associated Press reporting contributed to this report.
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