Judge blocks ATF rule on expanded firearms
background checks in Texas, 3 other states

DALLAS — A federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked a new Biden administration rule that would require gun sellers to conduct background checks on their customers at gun shows and online following a lawsuit by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other gun rights supporters.

What You Need to Know

• Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday blocking the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from enforcing the new rule in four states and against several gun rights groups and one individual in the lawsuit
• "This rule went beyond the authority granted to the agency by Congress and represented a flagrant violation of the Second Amendment," a news release from Paxton's office said
• The rule change clarifies that anyone who sells a weapon to predominately make a profit must be federally licensed and conduct background checks, which would mean sellers outside of brick-and-mortar gun stores
• President Joe Biden has touted the rule change saying it would close the so-called gun show loophole and help to combat gun violence

Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday blocking the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from enforcing the new rule in four states –Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Utah–and against several gun rights groups and one individual in the lawsuit. .....