How New Gun Rules Will Affect Purchasing A Gun In Minnesota
There's a new gun law that is going into effect soon, and it will change the way a lot of people buy firearms.
It was announced today that the Justice Department finalized rules to close the 'gun show loophole.' White House Officials say it's the biggest increase in gun regulation in decades.
What is the gun show loophole?
For years, you could go to a gun show and you could buy a firearm from certain people without a background check. The law was only people who sold firearms as their main source of income had to be licensed. Efforts to change that happened after the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was passed in 2022. However, the ATF suggested that the rules still weren't clear enough.
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I bought my deer rifle for hunting in Minnesota without an ID.
Years ago, I went to a gun show and bought my Marlin lever action 30-30 rifle for deer hunting at a gun show in Duluth. I was surprised at the time that I didn't need to show an ID. The purchase was done in cash, and there's no record of it anywhere. Now under the new rules, this individual who was making a profit on the sale will need to be licensed.
Minnesota passed a law to partially restrict the gun show loophole in 2023.
Giffords Law Center reported that effective on Augst 1, 2023 Minnesota partially closed the background check loophole by requiring that handgun and "semi-automatic military-style assault weapon" purchasers obtain a transferee permit. That permit would also include a background check.
This still allowed transfers of other long guns between private individuals.
Who is going to need to be licensed under the new rules?
The Washington Post explains the new rules require anyone who sells a firearm through mail order, at flea markets, gun shows, or online to register for a license and conduct background checks.
It's estimated to affect 23,000 unlicensed dealers nationwide.
Officials estimate that roughly 23,000 dealers will now have to get licensed. Previously, those sellers would claim that it was not their main source of income, but the new rule makes it clear that if they are selling for profit, they need to be licensed.