Biden administration expands background checks for gun sales

The Biden administration approved the largest expansion of background checks for gun purchases in decades on Thursday.

Why it matters: The new rule, which is almost certain to be challenged in the court, would require thousands of gun sellers to register as federally licensed firearms dealers. They would then have to run criminal and mental health background checks on potential buyers.

How it works: The rule announced Thursday is intended to close the "gun show loophole" and the related "online sale loophole" by forcing anyone who sells a firearm for profit to register with the federal government.

Due to those loopholes, around 20,000 dealers currently operate without licenses and are thus not required to conduct background checks, per AP.