Biden needs to leave the 2nd Amendment alone!
The proposal introduced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), known as ATF2022R-17, has drawn strong criticism from the National Rifle Association (NRA), which asserts that the suggested changes could unfairly criminalize lawful firearm transactions and create confusion for responsible gun owners. In an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, NRA-ILA Executive Director Randy Kozuch condemned the ATF’s proposal as another attempt to undermine Second Amendment rights.
Kozuch specifically pointed out that the ATF’s proposal disregards the recent NRA-backed Bruen ruling on the Second Amendment and raises concerns about its potential to cause confusion among law-abiding gun owners. The proposed rule, officially titled “Definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms,” aims to amend ATF regulations by incorporating provisions from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a gun control law signed by President Biden in 2022.
Among the contentious changes is the expansion of the definition of a “dealer” to include individuals who sell firearms and demonstrate a willingness and ability to engage in further transactions, not limited to cash transactions alone. This expanded definition could encompass those who sell firearms for non-monetary benefits, such as personal property or services.
The NRA argues that the proposed rule would lead to confusion regarding which firearm transactions necessitate a federal firearms license, potentially hindering the rights of gun owners. Kozuch suggested that the Biden administration should focus on enforcing existing laws and reforming crime policies rather than targeting law-abiding American gun owners.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed into law in June 2022, was considered a significant piece of firearm legislation by gun-control activists. It incentivized states to implement red flag laws and expand background checks for 18- to 21-year-olds. The ATF’s proposal, introduced in August of the same year, underwent a 90-day comment period, during which the NRA and over 330,000 groups and individuals expressed concerns about the potential confusion the rule could create for gun owners.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, leading a coalition of 26 attorneys general, criticized the ATF’s proposal in a letter dated December 7, describing it as a “shocking and unconstitutional attack” on the Second Amendment. Knudsen’s office argued that the proposal could subject individuals selling firearms without a federal license to civil, administrative, or criminal penalties, potentially impacting family transactions.
The NRA commended Attorney General Knudsen and the coalition of attorneys general for standing against the proposed rule, emphasizing its commitment to opposing what it considers an ill-advised rule and safeguarding constitutional rights from federal intrusion.