In response to growing concerns that President Biden will seek to take unilateral action to restrict Americans’ right to bear arms, Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) recently introduced H.R. 1534, the Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act. This legislation would prohibit President Biden and any future President from declaring a national emergency to enact gun control. Additionally, the bill would prevent the government from prohibiting “the manufacturing, sale, or transfer of firearms or ammunition” during an emergency.
President Biden and his left-leaning colleagues in Congress have indicated they are hell-bent on infringing upon all Americans’ Second Amendment rights. Less than three months into the 117th Congress, House Democrats have already brought two different gun control bills to the floor. On March 23rd, the President called on the Senate to pass both pieces of legislation. President Biden also faces additional political pressure from the radical Left, as seen by the numerous calls for him to take action on his own by declaring “gun violence” a public health emergency. The idea behind this strategy is that declaring gun violence as a “public health emergency” would open “a broad set of powers to accelerate steps to prevent gun violence.” While President Biden made calls for “unity” at his inauguration, his cabinet nominations have already shown him more than willing to advance the far-Left’s agenda as he strives to be a transformative president.
Even before taking office, President Biden has been clear about his intentions for gun control as his own website even touts his willingness to use executive action to enact his gun control agenda. Knowing this, Congress must act to pass Congressman Cloud’s legislation and ensure the Second Amendment rights afforded by the Constitution are not put in jeopardy by a President who decides to take matters into their own hands.
In an era of hyper-partisanship, when our country stands divided, it is more important than ever that any action on this issue happens in Congress. Members of Congress are lawfully elected to represent their constituents’ views in federal affairs and silencing those voices to score a win with the far-Left is a non-starter. Instead of unilaterally imposing limitations on Constitutional rights, President Biden, and all future administrations, should take a step back and allow Congress to speak for the American people.
Heritage Action supports this legislation and encourages all Members to cosponsor the bill.