Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Chicago/United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- Loyal Ammoland readers rightly look forward to what they expect will be a favorable ruling in NYSRPA v. Bruen (the extent remains to be seen). However, they should not think that anti-Second Amendment extremists will give up. Far from it, if legislation introduced earlier this month by Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) is any indication. This bill is one of the types of legislative attacks that NYSRPA v. Bruen, for all the good it will do, can’t stop.
HR 6225 is titled as a bill to “modernize the business of selling firearms.” Well, when it comes from an anti-Second Amendment extremist like Representative Kelly and is co-sponsored by other anti-Second Amendment extremists, it’s clear that a more accurate descript would be calling this a bill to “drown gun stores in red ink and red tape.” Don’t take my word for it, look at the press release her office put out.
Now, nobody denies that there probably is a need to address modern technology vis-à-vis the Second Amendment, and there is plenty of room for real reforms (not the snake oil anti-Secod Amendment extremists are selling). With NICS and computers, there is no need for a multi-week licensing process to own firearms, not can a similarly lengthy permit-to-purchase scheme stand. And we can also largely dispense with restrictions on what can and cannot be purchased based on crossing state lines.
But Kelly’s not doing that sort of modernization. As noted in the press release, there are a host of new restrictions imposed on firearms dealers. Much of the justification is crime in Chicago. Now, you may be familiar with the crap Kim Foxx has pulled. Take, for instance, that “mutual combat” gunfight from a couple of months ago.
Foxx’s bullshit aside, this is exactly the kind of case a local official should be referring to the US Attorney’s office to look into using 18 USC 922 and 18 USC 924. Members of gangs in cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and Philadelphia (among others) are ripe for prosecution under those statutes.
Put it this way, someone who uses a fake ID in West Virginia to buy a single Glock pistol to arm a gang member with felonies on his rap sheet can be put away for up to 20 years on just that single Glock alone. That gang member can get up to 10 years just for possessing the gun. That goes without considering the many enhancements in 18 USC 924.
Contrary to what you may hear from some self-appointed Second Amendment commissars, not using these statutes in these cases does us little good. Given what Representative Kelly wants to inflict on your local gun dealer, who in all likelihood does take steps to keep their inventory secure, and who helps you and others exercise their Second Amendment rights, using those provisions is an easy way to head off her legislation at the pass.
The fact is legislation like HR 6225 will be a threat. The best way to stop it is to defeat anti-Second Amendment extremists like Robin Kelly via the ballot box at the federal, state, and local levels. Needless to say, Second Amendment supporters need to contact their Representative and Senators and politely urge them to oppose this legislation.
About Harold Hutchison
Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.