The Biden administration is making headlines for a surge in gun dealer license revocations, raising concerns among conservatives about Second Amendment rights. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reportedly revoked licenses from 122 gun dealers during the last fiscal year, a significant increase from previous years. This data reveals a departure from past administrations, both Republican and Democratic, as neither revoked more than 81 licenses annually since 2013.
The ATF’s intensified inspections, leading to revocations, have stirred outrage within the firearms community. Many gun dealers claim to have received warnings before their licenses were pulled, prompting lawsuits against the Biden administration. These actions are viewed by some as an indirect violation of the Second Amendment, and gun shop owners are experiencing the impact firsthand. Anthony Navarro, a gun shop owner who lost his license, cited a substantial drop in revenue, suggesting that the policy is harming small businesses.
The trend has raised concerns about the role of gun dealers as partners in curbing gun trafficking. The ATF’s heavier approach with inspections and license revocations is a departure from its historical reliance on dealers for information about suspicious buyers. Some critics argue that these changes are undermining a cooperative relationship that used to exist between the ATF and licensed dealers.
The recent focus on pistol stabilizing braces further exemplifies the Biden administration’s approach to firearms regulations. The reclassification of pistols with stabilizing braces as “short-barreled rifles” drew attention, as it required existing pistols with braces to be registered with the federal government. This move sparked backlash, with conservatives pointing out that the change circumvented the legislative process. Republicans have also expressed concerns over the administration’s decision to reject a resolution aimed at protecting Americans’ access to pistol braces, citing the lack of a corresponding bill in Congress.
As gun rights remain a contentious issue in the United States, conservatives are raising questions about the motivations behind the administration’s actions and the potential implications for Americans’ Second Amendment rights.
