Small Gun Dealers Urge ATF to Rethink 13 Million Online Sales Shift
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 21
Small Gun Dealers Urge ATF to Rethink 13 Million Online Sales Shift
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 21
Summary
Hundreds of small gun dealers pressed the ATF to reconsider two Trump administration proposals that would let firearms be shipped directly to buyers and background checks be completed remotely.
More than 13 million annual gun sales could move online if buyers change their habits, the agency estimates, a shift independent stores say would steer business to large retailers and threaten their survival.
Dealers also argue the changes would weaken public safety, while the ATF says the rules would impose no costs on roughly 45,000 federally licensed dealers and could expand their statewide markets.
The clash exposes an unusual split inside the gun industry as the administration frames the proposals as part of a broader effort to modernize firearms regulation and ease burdens on sellers and owners.