Florida revamps lawsuit challenging federal “gun show loophole,” cites lower attendance

TALLAHASSEE—Floridathisweekrevampedalawsuitthatchallengesanewfederalrulerequiringmoregunsellerstobelicensedandrunbackgroundchecksonbuyers,inpartpointingtolowerattendanceatgunshows. Lawyersforthestateraisedthegun-showissuebecausetheysaidtheruleisreducingtaxrevenuefrompurchasesofadmissiontickets.Bidenadministrationattorneyslastmontharguedthataninitialversionofthelawsuitshouldbedismissedbecausethestatehadnotshownlegalstanding—anissuethatlosttaxrevenuecouldaddress. Therevisedlawsuit,filedMondayinfederalcourtinTampa,saidthestate’s“assertedinjury—losttaxrevenue—isclearandongoing.” “Ordinarily,gunshowsinFloridaduringthesummermonthsofJune,JulyandAugustenjoyhighattendancerates—oftenhostingthousandsofpeopleatasingleshow,”lawyersinAttorneyGeneralAshleyMoody’sofficewrote.“ButsincethechallengedrulewentintoeffectonMay20,attendanceatthesesummer