The Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) took a significant step forward in the fight against gun violence last week. Acting on President Joe Biden’s executive order, the agencies introduced a crucial new proposed rule to expand background checks on firearms purchases.
This rule aims to save lives by expanding background checks to individuals involved in commercial firearm sales. Currently, some gun sellers exploit a gap in law, avoiding background checks for firearms sold through online ads and at gun shows.
This proposed rule announcement coincided with the fourth anniversary of the tragic 2019 Midland-Odessa mass shooting spree, in which eight people were killed and 25 people were injured. The shooter acquired the weapon through the same loophole this rule is attempting to address.
The public comment period for this proposed rule change is open through Dec. 7, 2023. With the deadline rapidly approaching, we need your help closing this background check loophole. March For Our Lives, a student-led organization advocating for gun-reform legislation, has launched this form to make submitting a comment easier.
Our schools and communities deserve to be safe and secure environments where our children can learn and thrive without the fear of violence. By closing loopholes and strengthening regulations, we can take significant strides toward ensuring that our schools and communities remain places of safety, growth, and opportunity for all.