Feenstra Joins Colleagues in Reintroducing Legislation to Protect Americans' Second Amendment Rights

Press Release

Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04) recently joined Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-06) to reintroduce the Firearm Due Process Protection Act as an original cosponsor. The proposal would protect Americans' Second Amendment right to own a firearm by implementing a process for folks to purchase firearms if they feel they were initially incorrectly denied by the government.

"Our Founding Fathers enshrined the Second Amendment in our Constitution for a reason, and that was to ensure no American would be tempted to trade liberty for the promise of security. That is why it is so important to put a process in place for Americans who are erroneously denied the right to purchase a firearm. It is every Americans' fundamental right to keep and bear arms, and I will continue advocating for legislation that enforces this right," said Rep. Feenstra.

Background

The Firearm Due Process Protection Act would enforce a requirement that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) correct its records within 60 days and make a final listing of requests. NICS currently provides an appeal process for people that feel they were wrongfully denied a firearm. In 2018, the Fix NICS Act implemented a 60 day deadline for the appeal process, but there is no mechanism in place to enforce the deadline. Currently, the FBI does not disclose the average length of the appeals process, how many transactions are denied and destroyed, or why appeals are upheld or overturned.

This proposal would reaffirm the 60 day deadline for the FBI to come to a determination and give citizens the right to seek a court judgment to correct erroneous information if the FBI does not act on an appeal within the two month deadline.

Rep. Feenstra also recently cosponsored the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act, an effort to eliminate a $200 tax on the transfer and purchase of firearms.

Source