Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Kevin Cramer, Marsha Blackburn, and 66 Republican colleagues have filed a bicameral amicus brief in support of the Second Amendment rights of all Americans. The brief aims to uphold the rights of veterans and disabled individuals who may require assistance to exercise their right to keep and bear arms.

The amicus brief comes in response to a final rule announced by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reclassifying pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles. This rule change imposes burdensome regulations on individuals, particularly those with disabilities or who need extra stability to safely use the weapon.

According to the brief, this rule infringes upon Americans' Second Amendment liberties, and the ATF does not have the authority to criminalize the exercise of a constitutional right. The brief argues that it is Congress, not the ATF, that should decide whether to regulate pistol braces.

"The Rule is especially concerning for Americans with disabilities or otherwise lacking physical strength to comfortably fire pistols, including veterans. Importantly, the Second Amendment protects the rights of all law-abiding adult citizens—not just the strong and able-bodied," wrote the members of the amicus brief.

The brief emphasizes that the Second Amendment is a fundamental protection of liberty deeply rooted in the nation's history and tradition. It calls on the court to reverse the district court's decision, grant the appellants' motion for a preliminary injunction, and vacate the ATF rule.

The amicus brief was signed by a total of 69 Republican lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell, John Barrasso, Ted Budd, Tom Cotton, and Joni Ernst, among others. The brief was also supported by U.S. Representatives such as Mark Amodei, Andy Barr, Dan Bishop, Michael Burgess, and Virginia Foxx, among many others.

This is not the first time Senator Cassidy has taken action to protect Second Amendment rights. In March, he introduced a resolution to prevent the ATF from enforcing the anti-Second Amendment pistol brace rule. Additionally, in June, Cassidy joined Leader McConnell and 47 other Republican senators in calling on the ATF to withdraw their proposed rule banning the use of stabilizing braces on firearms.

Under the ATF's proposed rule, lawful gun owners could face severe penalties, including up to 10 years in jail and hefty fines, for failing to register pistols with stabilizing braces. Gun owners would also be required to destroy their firearms, surrender them to the ATF, or remove the brace in a way that prevents reattachment.

The amicus brief filed by Cassidy, Cramer, Blackburn, and their fellow Republican colleagues is a strong statement in defense of the Second Amendment rights of all Americans. It highlights the importance of allowing individuals, including veterans and disabled individuals, to exercise their constitutional rights without undue burdens and regulations imposed by government agencies.

The amicus brief can be read in its entirety on the official website of Senator Cassidy.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-cramer-blackburn-file-bicameral-amicus-brief-in-support-of-the-second-amendment/