Below is an excerpt from a public comment submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in regard to the proposed rule "Definition of 'Engaged in the Business' as a Dealer in Firearms" on December 13, 2023.
I am in favor of the proposed rule clarifying the definition of “engaged in business,” which would increase background checks and ensure that all of those involved in the selling of firearms are subject to the same appropriate regulations. All sellers making a profit from selling firearms must be licensed and required to run background checks on their customers. My research suggests that the availability of firearms in a community through legal dealers increases the risk for gun violence, particularly in neighborhoods high in concentrated disadvantage (Semenza et al., 2022). Furthermore, the presence of licensed firearm dealers with serious violations such as selling to prohibited buyers or failing to record sales is associated with greater risk for violent crime such as homicide in local communities (Stansfield et al., 2023).