Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is co-leading a 21-state coalition against the Biden Administration’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) over a new rule that the states claim effectively bans gun sales. The ATF’s new rule broadens the definition of a “firearms dealer” and would require Iowans to register as a federal firearms licensee (FFL) to sell even a single gun between family members. Failure to comply could result in severe penalties, including potential prison time. The rule also changes what constitutes a transaction, as exchanges of property or services would also be considered gun sales. The lawsuit challenges the rule’s constitutionality, citing violations of the Second Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act. Bird says, “It is clear that Biden will stop at nothing to criminalize law-abiding citizens for exercising their Second Amendment rights. As a prosecutor, I see his administration looking the other way when it comes to prioritizing going after gang members and violent felons with guns. Instead, he targets law-abiding firearms owners. It is wrong for Biden to force Iowans to become licensed firearms dealers just to sell a gun to a friend or family member. I am taking Biden to court to stand up for Iowans’ Second Amendment rights.” Iowa co-led the lawsuit with Kansas and Montana, with support from 18 other states. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and can be found included below.
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