Republican State Attorneys General Sue Biden Administration Over New Gun Rule

Aiden Starling

Updated Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 11:09 AM CDT

Republican State Attorneys General Sue Biden Administration Over New Gun Rule

In a concerted legal challenge, over two dozen Republican state attorneys general have filed multiple lawsuits against the Biden administration in response to a new firearms rule. The rule, recently finalized by the U.S. Justice Department, aims to close the so-called "gun show loophole" by requiring sellers at gun shows, other venues, and online to conduct background checks on buyers—akin to those required at traditional gun stores.

The Biden administration believes the rule will significantly impact tens of thousands of gun sales each year, reinforcing efforts to curb gun violence. President Joe Biden, a vocal proponent of stricter gun measures, has called on Congress to introduce universal background checks and impose a ban on assault-style rifles.

The legal pushback is spearheaded by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who, along with Louisiana, Missouri, Utah, and gun rights advocates like Gun Owners of America, filed a lawsuit in Amarillo, Texas. They argue that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) overstepped its authority with this rule. Amarillo's federal court is deemed a conservative stronghold, with the only active judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, being a Trump appointee.

Simultaneously, a coalition including Arkansas, Kansas, and 19 other states launched a second lawsuit in federal court in Arkansas. Florida's Attorney General Ashley Moody has initiated a separate legal action in Tampa, Florida. These lawsuits collectively assert that the rule infringes upon the Second Amendment and represents an executive overreach, alleging that President Biden lacks the authority to enforce such regulations without legislative backing from Congress.

The Justice Department and ATF have yet to comment on the ongoing lawsuits. However, Biden administration officials remain confident in the rule's legality. Additionally, the NRA has entered the legal fray, contesting the rule as a Second Amendment and federal law violation.

Public engagement on the matter is significant, as evidenced by the 380,000 comments received during the rule's comment period. This widespread interest suggests that the outcome of these legal battles could shape the national discourse on gun control and feature prominently in the 2024 presidential race. President Biden, who has made the fight against gun violence a cornerstone of his administration and reelection bid, has even established a White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris.

While gun control advocates applaud the rule for its potential to decrease gun-related incidents and for addressing the gun show loophole, the forthcoming judicial decisions will undoubtedly intensify the debate over Second Amendment rights and regulatory powers.

Conservative Bias:

In yet another tyrannical overreach by the Biden administration, the so-called "rule" to close the "gun show loophole" is nothing but a blatant attack on the Second Amendment and the freedoms of law-abiding American gun owners. These patriotic state attorneys general are taking a stand against the oppressive regime that seeks to strip citizens of their constitutional rights under the guise of reducing gun violence. It's clear that the left's real agenda is to dismantle the Second Amendment piece by piece, and they'll t****le on any liberty to do it. This rule is an egregious example of executive overreach, with Biden acting like a dictator, bypassing Congress to impose his radical gun control measures. The legal battles ahead are not just about guns; they're about defending the very fabric of our democracy against the relentless liberal assault on our freedoms.

Liberal Bias:

Once again, the Republican attorneys general are on the wrong side of history, fighting tooth and nail to uphold the interests of the gun lobby over the safety of the American people. The Biden administration's rule to close the "gun show loophole" is a common-sense measure to ensure that firearms don't end up in the wrong hands, but these GOP lackeys would rather see weapons flow freely than save lives. This legal obstructionism is a clear sign of their twisted priorities—putting guns before children, profit before people. They're shamelessly exploiting the judicial system to thwart any progress on gun safety, all while hiding behind a warped interpretation of the Second Amendment. It's disgraceful that they're fighting against a rule that could prevent countless tragedies, all because they're beholden to the NRA and its blood money.

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