An ATF That Respects the Second Amendment

The Biden Administration spent four years chipping away at the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. In 2021, their Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) announced the Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement, or Zero Tolerance Policy, to set stricter criteria for firearms Industry Operations compliance inspections.

As U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said, "The prior administration’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy unfairly targeted law-abiding gun owners and created an undue burden on Americans seeking to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms." Then she repealed the rule.

ATF also announced that they are going to review two other Biden rules. One rule regards the redefinition of stabilizing braces, which reclassified certain firearms and would leave a lot of disables veterans and sportsmen without options. Another revised guidelines that determined who is considered "engaging in the business" of selling firearms.

I pushed back on all of these rules with letters and legislation when Biden was in office. I am glad to see the Trump administration has committed to working with stakeholders to make sure these reviews are conducted with legal experts, industry leaders, and gun rights organizations to ensure the 2nd Amendment is upheld.

Co-Sponsoring the Firearm Due Process Protection Act

This Administration is revealing the inefficiencies, fraud, waste, and abuse happening within the federal government. The FBI is no exception. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has been broken for a long time and every year, due to administrative failures in this process, law-abiding Americans are wrongfully denied the right to purchase a firearm. And, despite a 60-day deadline for the government to process appeals, there is no enforcement for this deadline.

I co-sponsored the Firearm Due Process Protection Act to provide legal pathways for people who are wrongfully denied a firearm due to these bureaucratic errors. This bill reaffirms a 60-day deadline for federal officials to make a determination on an appeal. It also allows citizens to seek a court judgment to correct information if the FBI does not act on the appeal within the deadline. It also further holds the FBI accountable to Congress by requiring them to submit statistics on the number of appeals, the number that are overturned, and the reasons they were overturned or upheld.

I am glad to say this legislation was recently marked up in the House Judiciary Committee and I look forward to it coming to the floor for a vote.

Reintroducing the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Reform Act

For many law enforcement officers, their duties don't end when their shift does. They are committed, life-long protectors of their communities. I have co-sponsored the LEOSA Reform Act to allow these trained officers the ability to protect and serve even when they're off the clock. This legislation would allow qualified retired or off-duty officers to extend their concealed and carry privileges. This would enable them to respond quickly to emergencies in public places like schools, mass transit, or shopping centers.

This legislation makes our law enforcement stronger and our communities safer. It passed 221-185 in the House last year and I look forward to passing it again this year.

Expanding Export Markets for U.S. Firearms Industry 

Despite letters, legislation, hearings, and oversight, the last administration regularly ignored the wishes of Congress to push their anti-firearms agenda. For example, several requests were made for Biden's Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) rule, "Revision of Firearms License Requirements." This rule costs the U.S. firearms industry almost $500 million every year, and has no benefit for American interests or regional stability. It stops the commercial export of firearms, ammunition, and related components to over 36 countries, severely limiting the ability to get an export license for American businesses.

This rule goes against this Administration's America First agenda and President Trump's executive order to secure Second Amendment rights, and it needs to be pulled. Once Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was confirmed, my colleagues and I sent him a letter congratulating him on his appointment and request that he rescind this misguided rule as soon as possible. I am excited to work with an administration that respects American businesses and the Second Amendment.

Thank you for reading!

fischbach.house.gov

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