The Biden administration is reversing a much-criticized policy that required inspectors to revoke gun stores' federal firearms sales licenses over certain paperwork errors or unusual behavior as part of a "zero tolerance" approach.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) voluntarily overturned the rule after Austin, Texas, gun store owner Michael Cargill filed a lawsuit. Michael Cargill, an outspoken supporter of gun rights, believes the policy impedes access to guns and is an impediment to the right to own guns.
"I literally single-handedly neutered ATF," Cargill told Fox News Digital.
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FAR-15 style rifles are displayed for sale in gun stores. (Reuters/Bingguan)
Cargill filed the case with support from the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) and America First Law Firm.
Under the rule, issued by the Biden administration in 2021, holders of a federal firearms license (FFL) could have their license revoked upon a first "willful" violation of multiple regulations, including falsifying records such as firearm transaction forms certificate.
The rule is intended to curb gun crime. Critics, however, say it is used to punish gun dealers for minor but honest clerical errors. TPPF cited random errors that occur when filling out forms, such as writing "United States" in the "County" field on a background check form.
Fox News Digital has contacted the ATF.
Matt Miller, a senior attorney at TPPF and lead counsel on the case, said the Biden administration’s zero-tolerance approach would be “devastating” for businesses.
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Semi-automatic shotguns are displayed on shelves at a McBride Guns Inc. store in Austin, Texas, on August 25, 2023. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
"Many gun shops were forced to close due to the illegal provisions of the old enforcement order," he said in a statement. "The new order effectively reinstates the old enforcement guidance, which means gun shops don't have to live in fear of an honest mistake. middle."
Cargill previously won a lawsuit at the U.S. Supreme Court overturning a federal ban on bump stocks.
"When you walk into a gun store, a customer can make a mistake on the paperwork in 100 different ways," he said. "In this term, if we allow them to go in and check the hospital, they're going to say 'They're in The hospital made a mistake'. "Whether it was the doctors or the radiology department, they made a mistake and we're going to shut down the whole hospital, it's crazy. "
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"No one is doing this. No other industry is under this kind of pressure," Cargill added.