Biden to target ‘merchants of death’ who sell illegal guns, as U.S. homicides spike

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President Joe Biden pledged on Wednesday to go after illegal gun dealers and boost federal funding and support for local law enforcement as homicide rates have spiked in large cities.

“Merchants of death are breaking the law for profit,” Biden said, adding the administration will have “zero tolerance” for rogue firearms dealers accountable for violating federal laws.

He said the government also will help states employ more police officers using funds already approved to help the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My message to you is this,” Biden said, addressing gun dealers who “willfully” break the law. “We will find you and we’ll seek your license to sell guns. We’ll make sure you can’t sell death and mayhem on our streets.”