Key facts
- Trump administration proposes broad gun deregulation.
- Changes would allow handguns to be shipped in the mail.
- Biden-era background check rules would be weakened.
- It would become harder to revoke a gun dealer's license.
- The ATF argues changes reduce burdens without undermining law enforcement.
The Trump administration is advancing a significant deregulation of firearms, aiming to reverse several existing rules and statutes. Key proposals include allowing the mailing of handguns, which has been banned for nearly a century, following a Justice Department conclusion that the ban is unconstitutional. The administration also plans to weaken background check requirements implemented during the Biden era, specifically targeting the closure of the "gun show loophole." Furthermore, proposed changes aim to make it more difficult to revoke the licenses of gun dealers and remove the mandate for licensed sellers to provide youth handgun safety notices. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) argues these modernizations will reduce burdens on gun owners without compromising law enforcement efforts. However, gun violence prevention advocates, such as Kris Brown of Brady: United Against Gun Violence, contend that these rollbacks benefit the gun industry at the expense of public safety and could lead to an increase in violent crime and hinder law enforcement. The National Rifle Association's lobbying arm supports the repeal of the handgun mailing ban, citing it as a burden on law-abiding owners. Conversely, opponents fear increased risks of theft, circumvented background checks, and emboldened traffickers. The ATF itself acknowledged in a proposal that some changes could endanger people, potentially leading to mass casualty events. This policy shift represents a significant pivot from the regulatory approach taken during the Biden administration.