As the June 1 deadline for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule banning pistol braces approaches, Republicans are standing up to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The proposed rule, which would turn owning an unregistered plastic stabilizing brace for pistols into a felony, has ignited a fierce debate and prompted Republicans to take action.
Pistol braces were initially designed in 2012 to assist disabled veterans in shooting independently. However, President Biden has labeled them as “especially dangerous” due to their involvement in a few tragic mass shootings. While it is crucial to address the issue of gun violence, it is equally important to protect the rights of responsible gun owners.
Under the new rule, gun owners would be required to register their pistol braces with the ATF, destroy them, or remove them from their weapons. Failure to comply could result in severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine. Such punitive measures would unfairly burden law-abiding citizens and infringe upon their constitutional rights.
To counter this rule, Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, along with 188 cosponsors, introduced a resolution disapproving of the ATF’s actions. This resolution falls within the U.S. code for congressional oversight of agency rulemaking. While it has passed the House Judiciary Committee, it still awaits a full floor vote led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Gun Owners of America (GOA), a prominent gun rights advocacy group, is urging Republican lawmakers to seize this opportunity to protect the Second Amendment and hold Democrats accountable. With over 189 House Republicans and 47 senators already supporting the measure to block this rule, there is significant momentum to force vulnerable Democrats to take a stand.
Even if President Biden were to veto the resolution, its passage would send a clear message to federal judges currently considering the ATF’s authority. It is crucial to remind the courts that Congress has not authorized such an attack on millions of law-abiding gun owners.
The resolution to block the rule is exempt from the filibuster, allowing Senate Republicans to force a vote. This puts Democrats representing pro-gun states, such as Jon Tester of Montana, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, in a challenging position. Their constituents deserve to know where they stand on this crucial issue.
While a temporary injunction from the Fifth Circuit Court has provided some relief, it is vital to secure a more comprehensive injunction to prevent millions of Americans from potentially becoming felons overnight on June 1st.
Republicans remain committed to upholding the rights enshrined in the Second Amendment and protecting the freedoms of law-abiding citizens. The battle to defend these fundamental rights is far from over, and the outcome will have a profound impact on the future of gun ownership in America.
Source Fox News