Biden nominates new ATF director, releases ghost gun rule

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to nominate an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On Monday, Biden announced he’s nominating Steve Dettlebach to run the agency.

“Dettelbach is a highly respected former U.S. Attorney and career prosecutor who spent over two decades as a prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice,” the White House said in a statement.

Biden also unveiled its formal rule to rein in ghost guns. Those are privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes.

“This final rule bans the business of manufacturing the most accessible ghost guns, such as unserialized “buy build shoot” kits that individuals can buy online or at a store without a background check and can readily assemble into a working firearm in as little as 30 minutes,” the White House said.

The rule clarifies that the kits qualify as “firearms” under the Gun Control Act, the White House said.

Kits must now be licensed and include serial numbers, and sellers of the kits must also be federally licensed and run background checks prior to a sale, according to the White House.

The president is also signing executive orders to ensure that “firearms with split receivers are subject to regulations requiring serial numbers and background checks when purchased from a licensed dealer, manufacturer or importer.”

Biden will also require federally licensed firearms dealers to retain “key” records as long as they are in business. The White House said the businesses previously had to keep the records for 20 years.

Biden also called on Congress to do more.

“We need Congress to pass universal background checks,” Biden said. “And ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”

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