President Joe Biden signed a new executive order to expand background checks for gun purchasing.
RELATED: 'Why only in America?': UK reporter presses Sen. Cruz on gun control
President Joe Biden took executive action Tuesday that seeks to increase the number of background checks conducted during gun sales as the White House reverts to unilateral ways to tackle gun control amid bleak prospects in Congress.
The order stops short of requiring universal background checks, which the president has asked Congress to pass through legislation. His action instead directs Attorney General Merrick Garland to clarify what it means to be "engaged in the business" of selling firearms.
Federal law requires that individuals in the business of selling guns be federally licensed and therefore check the backgrounds of buyers. Under the order, Garland will use his discretion to ensure gun sellers "willfully violating the law" and those unaware of background requirements become compliant.
» Subscribe to USA TODAY:
» Watch more on this and other topics from USA TODAY:
» USA TODAY delivers current local and national news, sports, entertainment, finance, technology, and more through award-winning journalism, photos, videos and VR.
#guncontrol #joebiden
It’s a start and badly needed.
Does it close the gun show loophole?
You mean the one that doesn’t actually exist?
You need a background check at gun shows
Didn’t we already do that like 40 years ago?
fraud.
Clown
You literally need a background check any time you buy a gun.
not private sales
Yay dictatorship!
Hunter is in trouble now
Go Biden!
You guys do know it was because the President from Mexico requested this