The Trump Administration Is Gutting Our Gun Laws

The Trump administration Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) — the agency whose job is to enforce our gun laws and oversee the gun industry — recently announced over 30 new rules that put the gun industry’s profits ahead of your safety.

Together, these changes weaken oversight and accountability, making it easier for dangerous situations to slip through the cracks, increasing the risk of gun violence and other tragedies, including mass shootings. 

One Rule. Millions of Consequences.

For decades, federal law has required that most gun purchases be made in person. One of the Trump administration’s regulations will change that.

Under a new “Skip the Counter” rule, gun buyers never have to set foot in a gun store. Firearms can be shipped directly to their doors.

According to the Trump administration’s own estimates, this rule alone will create 3.28 million additional online gun purchases per year. That’s 3.28 million fewer opportunities for gun stores to detect suspicious behavior and warning signs. And 3.28 million fewer chances to stop a tragedy. 

This rule removes gun store employees as a critical first line of defense in keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals and gun traffickers.

One thing is clear: This rule is a gift to the gun industry. Instead of prioritizing public safety, this administration is prioritizing gun industry profits.