WASHINGTON – Today, Heritage Action, a conservative organization with two million grassroots activists nationwide, released a statement from Executive Director Jessica Anderson in response to President Biden’s newly announced “ghost gun” final rule and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) nominee.
Crime continues to skyrocket in many cities across the country as a direct result of the Defund the Police movement and weak sentencing at the hands of left-wing, rogue prosecutors. Biden attacking so-called ‘ghost guns’ will only make our communities worse off. A ban on homemade firearms will allow the ATF to expand their definition of a firearm and subject many law-abiding firearm owners to more burdensome regulations and duplicative background checks. These efforts will not prevent criminals from breaking the law.
The Second Amendment is clear – Americans have the right to own and use firearms. Rather than weaponizing the ATF to violate this right and cover up his own crime crisis, Biden should take the necessary steps to protect our communities by empowering law enforcement and holding criminals accountable.
Background:
Though called ‘ghost guns’ by gun control advocates, these firearms are privately made firearms, legally assembled with individual parts, 3D printers, or kits. Despite President Biden’s claims that they are a weapon of choice for violent criminals, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) noted that these firearms were used in less than 0.36% of homicides between 2016 and 2020.
According to the White House, the ATF rule would:
Ban the business of manufacturing most homemade firearms without serial numbers or background checks,
Redefine ‘buy build shoot’ kits as firearms to expand ATF regulations, and
Add additional barriers for Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs), or gun stores, to resell homemade firearms.
In addition to the announcement on ‘ghost guns,’ Biden also announced new requirements for FFLs to expand their record-keeping and retain records beyond the current 20-year standard. Under the new rule, FFLs will be forced to keep all firearm records until the end of licensed activity.