By: José Niño
Several Republican elected officials introduced legislation with the aim of defending gun owners from several forms of government overreach. Namely, these bills would prohibit “no-knock” raids that federal and local functionaries routinely coordinate.
These legislative acts were put forward by Virginia Rep. Bob Good and Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry in response to new regulations that the ATF imposed on pistol braces. Under these regulations, pistol braces are now designated as short-barreled rifles, thereby requiring a license.
Per a press release published by Good’s office, the new pistol regulation “could open the door” for collaborative efforts between federal officials and local law enforcement harassing gun owners. The press release said the bill would bar the ATF, FBI, and other federal agencies from “providing support in the execution” of non-federal warrants.
“Law-abiding gun owners in my district and across the country should not live in fear that federal agents will come knocking at their door to confiscate their guns,” Good stated. “My bill will provide a check on this administration and ensure no-knock raids are not exploited to violate the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.”
Perry’s bill would bolster due process rights for individuals barred from owning firearms. According to Perry’s press release, the bill stipulates that if a person is to be prohibited from owning guns, they must first receive notice, have an opportunity to be heard, and receive legal adjudication.
Dudley Brown, the president of the National Association for Gun Rights, stated that NAGR has worked with Good and Perry to craft this legislation because “we need strong legislation to fire back at the incessant anti-gun policies of [President Joe] Biden and his machine.”
“As Joe Biden and leftist-controlled federal agencies continue their assault on the Second Amendment, we refuse to stand idly by and let them harass law-abiding Americans,” Brown added.
Such legislative items may have a chance of being passed in the US House due to it being under Republican control (222-213). However, it will likely die in the US Senate due to its Democratic Party control (51-49).
Such legislation will be used as a springboard by gun rights proponents to raise awareness about the excesses of gun control and build further momentum to elect additional pro-gun representatives. All things considered, the gun rights community is playing the long game by getting behind these legislative efforts.
José Niño is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. Contact him via Facebook, Twitter, or email him at [email protected]. Get his e-book, The 10 Myths of Gun Control, here.