The Right to Bear Arms is Protected by Our Constitution

Press Release

Congressman Doug Lamborn joined Congressman Ted Budd and Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger in leading a group of Republican Representatives in a letter to the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for intentionally closing small, family-owned gun stores across the country.

In January of 2020, the Biden Administration declared war on "rogue gun dealers". During Biden's first 11 months in office, the ATF has revoked 273 Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs)--an increase of more than 500%. What is more disturbing is that "rather than targeting the true rogues, Biden's ATF is revoking FFLs for the most minor of paperwork errors, which were never a concern for the ATF until Biden weaponized the agency."

"It is greatly concerning that the Biden Administration launched this war on law-abiding small business owners," said Congressman Lamborn. "The right to bear arms is protected by our Constitution, and the attempt to diminish that right by declaring a war on arms dealers holds no legal merit. I was glad to join Congressman Budd and Congresswoman Harshbarger in calling out Biden's gun-grabbing Administration for their continued executive overreach. Joe Biden should be focused on holding criminals, many of which are crossing our unsecure borders, accountable for their actions, not American small business owners who are following the law."

"This blatant attempt to use the administrative state to infringe on the rights of citizens to responsibly purchase firearms is wrong and must be stopped," said Congressman Budd. "Thanks to Rep. Harshbarger for joining me in calling out the Biden administration's executive overreach."

"We will not sit by and let this rouge Administration strip mom-and-pop gun stores across the country from the opportunity to do business," said Congresswoman Harshbarger. "Rest assured, the Biden Administration's days of operating without legal authority are coming to an end. I'm proud to represent my constituents by holding this gun-grabbing administration to account."

Background:

On June 23, 2021, the Biden Administration issued a "Fact Sheet" wherein they established a zero-tolerance policy for "rogue" gun dealers who commit "willful" violations. The Administration has coupled this "zero tolerance policy" with an interpretation of the word "willful" to include minor paperwork errors -- allowing the Biden Administration to close more than 500% more small and family-owned gun stores than in a typical year.

The oversight letter demands the Biden Administration immediately return to an interpretation of the word "willful" that corresponds with Congressional intent and the law. Furthermore, we have demanded answers regarding:

1. the legal justification for the changed interpretation of "willful";

2. all internal correspondence related to these changes; and,

3. the full justification for each revoked gun store license.

Source