STATEMENT: ATF Proposed Rules Strip Lifesaving Protections To Maximize Gun Industry Profits

Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) unveiled 34 proposed rules to weaken gun safety regulations that have proved effective in preventing illegal gun trafficking while respecting the Second Amendment. In response, Nick Wilson , senior director for Public Safety at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:  The Trump administration is once again prioritizing the interests of the gun industry over the safety of American families. The new proposed rule guts a key provision of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022—essentially getting rid of near-universal background checks. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attempted to spin this as ‘ the most comprehensive regulatory reform package in the history ‘ of ATF, but this is really an irresponsible effort to strip away lifesaving protections in order to maximize gun industry profits.  The absence of universal background checks fundamentally weakens every other gun safety measure on the books. Now is the time to strengthen, not eliminate, the commonsense regulations that have contributed to the falling rates of gun violence in recent years. Related resources: “Trump’s DOJ Prioritizes Gun Lobby Profits Over Reducing Violent Crime” by Nick Wilson “Delivering Accountability: A Plan To Stop Crime in Our Communities” by Neera Tanden and Nick Wilson For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Rafael Medina at [email protected] .