A federal judge in the US has temporarily blocked the Biden administration from fully implementing a new regulation, finalised last month to close the "gun show loophole" that appeared to ease license norms. The regulation was aimed at ensuring that those selling firearms at gun shows, online, and other venues must follow the same licensing and background check requirements as traditional gun stores.

The ruling, issued by US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, prevented the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from enforcing the rule in Texas&nbsp;or against members of several gun rights groups.

Texas Attorney General Paxton, a Republican, said in a statement, "I am relieved that we were able to secure a restraining order that will prevent this illegal rule from taking effect."&nbsp;

The plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit against the April ruling by the Biden administration was filed by Texas, several gun rights groups, and three other Republican-led states.

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The judge ruled that the new rule's provisions contradict the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act&nbsp;(BSCA), 2022.&nbsp;

Specifically, the judge criticised the rule for not exempting individuals who buy or sell firearms for personal protection, thus failing to provide a "safe harbour" for most gun owners.

Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the regulation during an April 10 press briefing.&nbsp;“Under this regulation, it will not matter if guns are sold on the internet, at a gun show, or in a brick-and-mortar store,” Garland said, adding, “If you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be licensed and you must conduct background checks.”

<h2>Rule aims to close fire sale loophole</h2>

The new rule also aims to address the fire sale loophole.

Normally, federally licensed firearms dealers are required to perform background checks on all gun buyers to ensure they are legally permitted to purchase firearms.

However, under fire sale loophole, when a dealer loses their license or decides to close their business, they can liquidate their stock as private individuals, thereby bypassing these mandatory checks.

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This change follows a zero-tolerance policy on lawbreaking gun dealers implemented by the Biden administration in 2021.

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The issue of gun violence remains pressing, with the Gun Violence Archive reporting at least 40,167 deaths from gun violence in the US as of December 7, 2023, averaging nearly 118 deaths per day.

(With inputs from agencies)

A federal judge in the US has temporarily blocked the Biden administration from fully implementing a new regulation, finalised last month to close the "gun show loophole" that appeared to ease license norms.

A federal judge in the US has temporarily blocked the Biden administration from fully implementing a new regulation, finalised last month to close the "gun show loophole" that appeared to ease license norms. The regulation was aimed at ensuring that those selling firearms at gun shows, online, and other venues must follow the same licensing and background check requirements as traditional gun stores. The ruling, issued by US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, prevented the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from enforcing the rule in Texas or against members of several gun rights groups. Texas Attorney General Paxton, a Republican, said in a statement, "I am relieved that we were able to secure a restraining order that will prevent this illegal rule from taking effect." The plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit against the April ruling by the Biden administration was filed by Texas, several gun rights groups, and three other Republican-led states. Also Read | Mother sues American Airlines after son's death on flight The judge ruled that the new rule's provisions contradict the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), 2022. Specifically, the judge criticised the rule for not exempting individuals who buy or sell firearms for personal protection, thus failing to provide a "safe harbour" for most gun owners. Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the regulation during an April 10 press briefing. “Under this regulation, it will not matter if guns are sold on the internet, at a gun show, or in a brick-and-mortar store,” Garland said, adding, “If you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be licensed and you must conduct background checks.” Rule aims to close fire sale loophole The new rule also aims to address the fire sale loophole. Normally, federally licensed firearms dealers are required to perform background checks on all gun buyers to ensure they are legally permitted to purchase firearms. However, under fire sale loophole, when a dealer loses their license or decides to close their business, they can liquidate their stock as private individuals, thereby bypassing these mandatory checks. Also Read | Iranian president's last image aboard helicopter emerges moments before fatal crash This change follows a zero-tolerance policy on lawbreaking gun dealers implemented by the Biden administration in 2021. Watch | Ebrahim Raisi news: A look at Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi's life × The issue of gun violence remains pressing, with the Gun Violence Archive reporting at least 40,167 deaths from gun violence in the US as of December 7, 2023, averaging nearly 118 deaths per day. (With inputs from agencies)

US judge blocks Biden administration's effort to close 'gun show loophole' in Texas

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that seeks to ban assault-style weapons, which have most widely been used in mass shootings. However, the legislation would most likely not advance in the Senate.

On Friday, the bill saw a partisan vote of 217-213, with Democrats Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Ron Kind of Wisconsin, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas and Kurt Schrader of Oregon voting against the ban, while Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Chris Jacobs of New York voting for the bill, reports CNN.

These assault-style rifles are lightweight, semi-automatic weapons which are widely used by hunters in the United States. They also are capable of severely damaging humans when the bullets tear through organs, bones and muscle in rapid fire.

The measure seeking to ban such weapons comes at a time when there is massive public anger over a series of mass shootings across the United States. In almost all of these incidents, assailants have reportedly used rapid-fire AR-15 rifles to kill and wound school children and adults.

"They're easier for a teenager to get than to buy a beer. We've turned our churches, our schools, our shopping centres, our entertainment venues, almost any place into a battleground with one massacre after another," Democratic Representative Lloyd Doggett said during the debate.

For many decades, Democrats have been trying to renew a federal ban on the weapon. The law was first imposed in 1994 but got expired in 2004.

According to a 2021 study by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the ban significantly reduced mass shootings during those periods.

But Republicans are against the ban, as they believe that the move is violative of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which grants the right to "keep and bear arms."

Democrats say that the prohibition is not a blanket measure, rather it seeks to control the sale of some guns and their enhancements.

President Joe Biden on Friday urged the Senate to back the decision.

"There can be no greater responsibility than to do all we can to ensure the safety of our families, our children, our homes, our communities, and our nation," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that seeks to ban assault-style weapons, which have most widely been used in mass shootings. However, the legislation would most likely not advance in the Senate.

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that seeks to ban assault-style weapons, which have most widely been used in mass shootings. However, the legislation would most likely not advance in the Senate. On Friday, the bill saw a partisan vote of 217-213, with Democrats Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Ron Kind of Wisconsin, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas and Kurt Schrader of Oregon voting against the ban, while Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Chris Jacobs of New York voting for the bill, reports CNN. These assault-style rifles are lightweight, semi-automatic weapons which are widely used by hunters in the United States. They also are capable of severely damaging humans when the bullets tear through organs, bones and muscle in rapid fire. The measure seeking to ban such weapons comes at a time when there is massive public anger over a series of mass shootings across the United States. In almost all of these incidents, assailants have reportedly used rapid-fire AR-15 rifles to kill and wound school children and adults. "They're easier for a teenager to get than to buy a beer. We've turned our churches, our schools, our shopping centres, our entertainment venues, almost any place into a battleground with one massacre after another," Democratic Representative Lloyd Doggett said during the debate. For many decades, Democrats have been trying to renew a federal ban on the weapon. The law was first imposed in 1994 but got expired in 2004. According to a 2021 study by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the ban significantly reduced mass shootings during those periods. But Republicans are against the ban, as they believe that the move is violative of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which grants the right to "keep and bear arms." Democrats say that the prohibition is not a blanket measure, rather it seeks to control the sale of some guns and their enhancements. President Joe Biden on Friday urged the Senate to back the decision. "There can be no greater responsibility than to do all we can to ensure the safety of our families, our children, our homes, our communities, and our nation," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US House passes bill to ban assault-style weapons

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US judge blocks Biden administration's effort to close 'gun show loophole' in Texas

US House passes bill to ban assault-style weapons

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