WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) proposed new rule to specify the definition of engaged in the business as a dealer in firearms. Murphy’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act clarified the definition of who is “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms as a person doing so with the intent to “predominately earn a profit.” Today’s rule amends the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) regulations to conform with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, clarifying who must register as a federally licensed firearms dealer and conduct background checks on gun sales.

“It’s pretty simple: anyone in the business of selling guns and making money off that business should be conducting background checks. For too long, the ambiguous definition of what it means to be ‘engaged in the business’ allowed thousands of unlicensed dealers to sell guns without background checks. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act made a small but important change to that definition, and today’s announcement from the DOJ provides more clarity. It’s going to significantly increase the number of background checks performed and ensure more guns stay out of dangerous hands. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration to ensure the final rule is as strong as possible.”

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