Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and 41 Senate Republicans have introduced a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to strike down the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) rule on the definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Dealer in Firearms. They argue that the rule flagrantly violates the Constitution by requiring anyone who sells a firearm to register as a federal firearm licensee.

"Once again, the Biden administration is playing fast and loose with the law to push his liberal, and frankly, unconstitutional agenda,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We will not stand by as the administration tries to restrict the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.”

Senator Cornyn added: “This rule is proof that the Biden administration is a dishonest broker, and Congress must hold it accountable for its actions in favor of its gun-grabbing liberal base over the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans."

Senator Tillis criticized the administration's approach: “It is outrageous that the Biden administration decided to take a good faith effort to curb the mental health crisis across our country and turn it into an unconstitutional attempt to restrict firearms from law-abiding American citizens."

Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09), who is introducing the resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives, echoed these sentiments: "The ATF’s ‘engaged in the business’ rule represents President Biden’s latest attempt to institute universal background checks, advance the Left’s radical gun control agenda, and infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment rights."

The resolution has received endorsements from Gun Owners of America, National Rifle Association, and National Shooting Sports Foundation. In addition to Cassidy, Cornyn, and Tillis; Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Kennedy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Boozman (R-AR), Jim Risch (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and others have joined in introducing the resolution.