Show-Me State Times

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, alongside a coalition of twenty other states, has taken a stand against the Biden Administration’s new rule from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that targets private gun sales. Attorney General Bailey emphasized his commitment to defending Second Amendment rights, stating, “When out-of-touch D.C. elites target Missourians’ Second Amendment rights, I will always take action to protect those liberties.”

The lawsuit challenges the requirement for law-abiding citizens to obtain a federal firearms dealer license when selling a firearm for “profit.” The attorneys general argue that this rule could potentially criminalize innocent sales between friends and family members, turning ordinary citizens into felons for engaging in private transactions. They assert that the rule is unconstitutional as it infringes on the Second Amendment and undermines congressional authority.

The coalition of states, including Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, and others, are seeking to postpone the rule and declare it a violation of the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. The lawsuit aims to combat what the attorneys general view as government overreach that threatens the fundamental rights of gun owners.

The full text of the lawsuit can be accessed for further review and analysis.