Op-Ed: Knox Williams: How President Donald Trump can end the weaponization of government against Second Amendment supporters
Laws are needed to cut the tangled mess of red tape that places onerous burdens on hunters and sportsmen in the process of purchasing firearms, suppressors, and other implements, Knox Williams writes.
President Donald Trump’s second term offers an historic opportunity to end the weaponization of the federal government against its citizens. Amid the flurry of day-one executive orders, the most significant may be his directive to agencies to review their abuse of power and recommend corrective action. This should be especially welcome news for gun owners and Second Amendment supporters who were top targets of the Biden administration and allies in the liberal activist class.
Under President Joe Biden, the entire federal government was turned into a weapon aimed squarely at the perceived political enemies of the Democratic Party. It instituted a two-tiered system of justice that waged lawfare against American citizens and shut disfavored businesses out of the financial system altogether. Anyone with whom Democrat activists disagreed was fair game.
For example, the marquee Biden legislation, the so-called American Rescue Plan, reallocated tens of millions of dollars for COVID-19 relief to organizations dedicated to curbing lawful gun ownership under the thinly-veiled guise of “gun violence prevention” efforts. And, responding to pressure from the Biden administration, big banks systematically choked off access to capital and lines of credit for firearms retailers and related groups. When pressed about their targeting of gun groups, JP Morgan admitted to fearing that continued work with firearm manufacturers, retailers, and advocacy organizations would land them in hot water with federal regulators.
While the Left worked covertly with the financial sector to undermine gun owners, institutions like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were more brazen in their attack on the industry. In April of last year, then-ATF Director Steven Dettelbach complained to CBS News about his agency’s inability to create a national gun registry, which is a list of all gun owners and the number of firearms each person possesses. Dettelbach also griped that law-abiding citizens can pay cash for firearms, implying that this action is or should be a crime.
Reining in an overzealous ATF is a critical step to protecting Americans from government tyranny. As we wait to see who President Trump’s choice will be to lead the agency, there is legislative groundwork being laid to cut the tangled mess of red tape that places onerous burdens on hunters and sportsmen in the process of purchasing firearms, suppressors, and other implements.
Wasting no time at the beginning of the new Congress, Rep. Ben Cline (R., Va.) reintroduced the Hearing Protection Act (HPA). The legislation, which has been considered by every Congress for a decade, would make it easier for gun owners to access suppressors.
Upon introduction of the bill, Congressman Cline correctly pointed out that, contrary to portrayals by Hollywood and the media, suppressors don’t “silence” a gun. Instead, this crucial hearing protection device dampens the noise of a gunshot to a decibel level about as loud as a jackhammer or ambulance siren. Roughly 30 million Americans enjoy shooting firearms for sport, and by easing access to suppressors it would make shooting firearms safer and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas) also recently introduced an important piece of bipartisan, pro-Second Amendment legislation. His bill, the PARTS Act, would clarify bureaucratic confusion over the definition and regulation of suppressors that has caused concern for buyers and sellers alike. It also eliminates unnecessary paperwork for non-serialized suppressor parts, which will ensure greater access for consumers.
Modernizing and reforming outdated laws around ownership of firearms and safety accessories is common sense and should be a priority for any lawmaker that supports the right of their constituents to safely exercise their rights. We are proud to stand alongside these leaders and encourage all members of Congress to get behind these pieces of legislation.
This strong start to the new Congress and administration is promising, but we must keep our eye on the ball. Even with the president’s executive order, many of the bureaucrats embedded in our federal government will continue to act as political ideologues. Curbing their power and unwinding the bad Biden policies will take time and diligent oversight by the current president and from members of Congress.
In the meantime, it’s crucial for lawmakers to advance the important bills that have been introduced and work together to reassure Americans that they will not have their rights trampled on.
Knox Williams is the President and Executive Director of the American Suppressor Association, an organization supporting law-abiding citizens who own suppressors to help protect their hearing.
