June 1st, 2023, is set to be an infamous day in American history — a day when the Biden administration launches a brazen attack against the constitutional rights of ordinary, law-abiding American gun owners. This onslaught, hidden in the bureaucratic labyrinth of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)’s seemingly harmless “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces'” rule, threatens to turn upright American citizens into felons overnight, without even the courtesy of a vote by Congress.
Now, before you dismiss this as just another partisan ploy, consider this: this issue goes beyond party lines. It targets the very essence of our Second Amendment rights. Regardless of your party affiliation, if you hold dear the fundamental principles of freedom and individual rights, this should concern you.
It’s not just about firearms, it’s about your liberty being infringed upon, unprecedented in American history.
The ATF-approved pistol braces are devices designed to make firearms more user-friendly for disabled people, not more lethal. However, under the new rule, a whopping 40 million Americans who legally purchased these braces to make their firearms more accessible could be unknowingly transformed into outlaws on June 1st.
What’s more, it undermines our respect for law enforcement. How?
Well, consider this scenario. This rule effectively puts police officers in the unenviable position of having to confiscate pistol-braced firearms from unsuspecting, law-abiding citizens who merely sought to make use of a device previously approved by the ATF. This includes the physically disabled, who had no malicious intent when buying their braces.
Is this what we want for our brave men and women in blue?
But let’s step back for a moment.
Is there any substantial evidence that these pistol braces make firearms more deadly?
Well, let’s examine the facts. Anti-gun activists, in their efforts to instill fear and manipulate public sentiment, can only point to three instances of mass killings where a pistol brace was involved: Boulder, CO; Dayton, OH; Nashville, TN. However, not one shred of evidence suggests that the use or legality of the pistol brace escalated the tragedies or resulted in more fatalities.
This is not about the brace. This is about evil people committing evil acts, and blaming an inanimate object is merely a diversion.
Recommendations by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection offer the following tips that all residents take three simple preparedness steps: Get a kit, make a plan, and stay informed”
Honorable Congressman Andrew Clyde has introduced H.J. Res 44, allowing for congressional disapproval of the ATF rule. This shows that there’s still a fighting chance. Yet, instead of giving it the attention it deserves, Congress is distracted by the debt limit negotiations.
Sure, the debt limit is a critical issue, but so is this. The introduction of Clyde’s resolution should, in fact, lend urgency to the matter.
If this doesn’t scream conspiracy against your Second Amendment rights, then what does?
Now, one may argue that there’s grassroots support for the ATF rule. But let’s look closer. Most of the support comes from the billionaire-funded, astroturf, anti-gun lobby, which has consistently failed to show sustained support from their donors. On the other hand, coalitions of Second Amendment supporters have been flooding Congressional offices with messages of disapproval since the rule’s announcement.
Gun Owners of America and industry influencers, reaching a combined audience of over 30 million, have voiced their strong opposition.
And yet, Congress hesitates.
Inaction on this rule threatens the legitimacy of Congress.
A refusal to vote would only exacerbate the already dwindling trust of Second Amendment supporters in Congress. It is time for the House leadership to listen to the people, to remember the constitution they swore to protect.
Let’s keep the conversation going.
Let’s make sure our rights are not trampled upon.
When it comes down to it, the proposed ATF rule isn’t just about pistol braces, but our liberties.
This isn’t a conspiracy theory.
It’s an alarm bell.
Hear it ring.
Stand up for your rights.
Our freedom is worth the fight.
