Gun dealers can now run background checks on their own employees

The Justice Department proposes new rules allowing licensed firearm dealers to use the national background check system for their employees. This means gun store owners can check the criminal and mental health history of people they hire to handle firearms.

Before this, gun dealers could not use the federal background check system to vet their own staff, even those handling firearms. This created a gap where employees who would fail a background check to buy a gun could still be hired to sell them. The change closes that gap, making it harder for individuals with disqualifying histories to work in gun sales.