The federal government is trying to change who is defined as a gun dealer. Democrats are attempting to put a huge tax on “assault weapons” and large capacity magazines to the tune of 1,000%. Republicans control the House but with only a thin majority. Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia sponsored this and something similar last year. Democrats are upset no firearms legislation has been presented this session.
Steep tax
You’ve got the right to bear arms provided you can afford it. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act became law last year. Biden wants to add to it.
The proposed addition would force anybody making money from the sale of firearms to get a federal license and do background checks. The current regulations demand that only dealers do background checks. The definition of a dealer is somebody who makes a living selling guns.
Democrats want the tax
Biden did an executive order to expedite the provision. The Justice Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are working this with an expected completion date of the end of 2024.
The provision “could set a threshold number of transactions that would define a dealer; gun-control groups hope to see it at five sales a year or lower. The rules will be backed up by a renewed push to prosecute businesses that refuse to register, by accessing bank records, storage unit leases and other expenses associated with running an off-the-books gun business.”
The tax will help
The gun control group Giffords was excited to see this move forward. This group was set up by two Democrats, Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy wants that threshold lower. He wants private dealers on the list. “Everybody agrees those people should have to perform background checks.” Um, no, not everybody. Gun Owners of America said Republicans should never have negotiated the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
“While Gun Owners of America fights for the Second Amendment in the courts, Congress must repeal the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act—which was a compromise with the Biden Administration that Republicans NEVER should have struck. It has been completely weaponized, gun owners have gained nothing, and America is no safer. Cornyn-Murphy has got to go, and Republicans must expiate for this sin. Congress must also participate in the rulemaking process and voice its opposition to backdoor universal background registration checks during the public notice and comment period alongside GOA members. After commenting during the proposed rule phase, Congress must also take up a joint resolution of disapproval pursuant to the Congressional Review Act and strike down this unconstitutional infringement,” the group said.
