Kaine, Warner applaud new DOJ rule on gun show loophole

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a new rule that aims to close a specific loophole regarding the sale of firearms.

On Thursday, Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner applauded the new gun show loophole rule, which is based on the Safer Communities Act.

The loophole concerns the sale of firearms online and at gun shows by private sellers without background checks.

“When we passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we secured long overdue, broadly popular provisions to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” said Warner. “I’m glad to see this law take another concrete step forward and close a loophole that allowed some individuals to attain firearms without a background check. This is another key step forward to preventing needless violence and making our communities safer, and I look forward to continuing to watch this law enact commonsense provisions that promote public safety and passing additional laws that address the tragic and deadly gun violence epidemic.”

 For decades, advocates have been campaigning for universal background checks and to close this exemption regarding private sales.

“Virginia has a lot of scar tissue related to gun violence, and we have a responsibility to do all that we can to reduce the risk of future tragedies,” said Kaine. “Requiring background checks for purchasers of firearms is a commonsense step in the right direction, and I’m proud to have helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that made this progress possible. I will continue to do all that I can to build on this move to make our communities safer.”

Under the new law, Congress can take even more steps to close the loophole.