NE Atlanta News

U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA), supported by 107 cosponsors, has introduced legislation intended to counter the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) proposed firearm sale regulations. The move is driven by concerns over potential infringements on Second Amendment rights. The bill aims to prevent the ATF's push for federal firearms licensing, background checks, and registration for firearm sales.

According to a press release from Clyde's office, the Congressman expressed his views on the matter: "This proposed rule marks the Biden Administration’s latest attempt to infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment rights, institute universal background checks, and advance the Left’s radical gun control agenda. Private citizens should not be forced to jump through unelected anti-gun bureaucrats’ unconstitutional hurdles in order to engage in lawful firearms transactions. The ATF’s concerning pattern of criminalizing the American people for exercising their unalienable right to keep and bear arms must be met with swift congressional action. My legislation provides a simple solution to block the implementation of and funding for this unlawful, convoluted, and burdensome rule — protecting Americans’ Second Amendment liberties from the Biden Administration’s nefarious overreach."

The press release from Clyde's office further revealed that the legislation was named the "Stopping Unconstitutional Background Checks Act." Its primary objective is to halt the implementation or funding of ATF's proposed rule altering the definition of 'Engaged in the Business' as a Dealer in Firearms. This proposed rule was signed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Aug. 30, 2023. According to Clyde's statement, if enacted, this rule would significantly expand regulations around buying and selling firearms.

Clyde's office also disclosed that original cosponsors of the "Stopping Unconstitutional Background Checks Act" include Representatives Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Rick Allen (GA-12), Mark Amodei (NV-02), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Lauren Boebert (CO-03), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), Thomas Massie (KY-04), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), among others, totaling 107 cosponsors in support of the legislation.

In addition, Clyde's office announced that the legislation has garnered support from various organizations, including Gun Owners of America (GOA), National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), National Rifle Association (NRA), and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). Aidan Johnston, the Director of Federal Affairs for Gun Owners of America, said: "While Congress has made it clear that the federal government may not create a registry of guns and gun owners, that's not stopping Joe Biden’s ATF from using every tool in its arsenal to weaponize the background check system to build a digital database of firearm transaction records. This backdoor 'Universal Background Check' rule, which attempts to require anyone selling just one gun in a year to keep gun registration paperwork, is a violation of the Second Amendment and is only enforceable with ATF’s illegal gun registry -- which the ATF Director admits is already very real. GOA thanks Congressman Clyde for standing up to this rogue regime's actions."