Two of the nation’s biggest pro-gun organizations is warning Americans that Congress appears to be doing nothing as a deadline approaches to stop a move by President Joe Biden to ban as many as 40 million privately-owned firearms
The National Association for Gun Rights and Gun Owners of America are calling on Congress to stop a proposed Biden Administration rule banning the use of stabilizing braces on pistols.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rule, titled “Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached “Stabilizing Braces” was published on January 31, 2023. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has until May 31, 2023 to pass a resolution invalidating the rule, or else it goes into permanent effect.
Popular with the disabled and wounded veterans, stabilizing braces allow a pistol to be braced against the shoulder. They are not popular with criminals, but there are as many as 40 million in use by private gun owners.
Under Biden’s rule, Americans would have to either register their braces and pay a federal tax or turn in their braces for confiscation. Those who do not comply, including anyone unaware of the new rule, could be prosecuted as felons.
“The ATF’s senseless rule will turn millions of gun owners into felons overnight for not registering their lawfully acquired pistol braces by May 31st,” said Dudley Brown, President of the National Association of Gun Rights. “And Republican leadership is turning a deaf ear to the gun rights community who have sent thousands of emails and made countless phone calls insisting that they address the issue.”
“The ATF is usurping the role of Congress by making up their own laws and calling them rules. Rules that get you charged with felonies if you don’t follow them sound a lot like laws to me,” said Brown.
“On March 17th, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA-9) introduced H.J. Res. 44, a resolution that would nullify the Biden brace ban, saving millions of Americans the hassle of registering their firearm accessory or worse being thrown in jail,” NAGR reports. The bill has 188 co-sponsors.
NAGR is asking its 4.5 million members to call Representative Steve Scalise and urge him to schedule a vote on H.J. Res. 44 as soon as possible in order to beat the May 31st deadline.
“Unelected bureaucrats having the power to make laws, without any legislative authority sounds like something that happens in third world dictatorships not America,” said Brown. “Lawmakers can either stand with gun owners by voting on H.J. Res. 44 or they can let the anti-gunners continue to run rampant all over the second amendment.”
“When an administration moves to renounce prior guidance and suddenly outlaw tens of millions of lawfully-owned products, Congress must step in and make clear that this is a question for the people’s representatives, not unelected bureaucrats equipped with a pen,” said Erich Pratt GOA’s Senior Vice President.
“We urge the House to pass H. J. Res. 44, a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to block this rule before its June 1st effective date. Without action, millions of law-abiding citizens stand to become felons overnight,” said Pratt.
“Whether by his calls to ban semiautomatic weapons or his multiple executive actions to ban homemade guns or pistol braces, President Biden has made it clear that he has no respect for the Second Amendment or the millions of citizens who cherish the right guaranteed by it. We urge Speaker McCarthy to get H. J. Res. 44 to the floor and passed before ATF starts putting gun owners in jail for keeping their pistols on June 1st,” added Aidan Johnston, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs.
Founded in 1976 as a no-compromise-ever pro-gun watchdog, GOA has two million supporters.
Won’t comply
It’s about time a US president had the guts to make stricter gun control regulations ! Because of lax gun control laws in recent years , who knows how many innocent people including children, have been killed by lunatics with guns . The 2nd amendment does not. mean the government may not enact. sensible regulations on guns for public safety .
Furthermore, such law will NOT result in confiscating guns from law-abiding Americans who use guns for legitimate purposes .