Republican lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills aimed at protecting gun owners, particularly by banning “no-knock” raids coordinated between federal and local officials amid gun regulation efforts.
The bills, introduced by Virginia Rep. Bob Good and Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry, come after the government put new regulations on pistols equipped with braces, which are now classified as short-barreled rifles and require a license.
A press release from Good’s office said the new pistol brace rule “could open the door” for collaboration between federal officials and local law enforcement targeting gun owners. The full text of his new bill was not available at the time of writing, but the press release said it would prohibit the FBI, ATF, and other federal agencies from “providing support in the execution” of non-federal warrants.
Exceptions are provided if a federal officer “enters due to a risk or threat of risk of a serious, imminent life-threatening injury” to any person present. A written report would be required after any such instance, according to the release.
“Law-abiding gun owners in my district and across the country should not live in fear that federal agents will come knocking at their door to confiscate their guns,” Good said. “My bill will provide a check on this administration and ensure no-knock raids are not exploited to violate the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.”
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Another bill introduced at the same time by Perry would strengthen due process rights for people being banned from owning guns. The bill would require notice, an opportunity to be heard, and legal adjudication before an individual could be put on the list of people prohibited from owning firearms, according to the press release.
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The text of that bill also was not available at the time of writing.
Dudley Brown, president of the National Association for Gun Rights, said his organization worked on the bills with Good and Perry because “we need strong legislation to fire back at the incessant anti-gun policies of [President Joe] Biden and his machine.”
“As Joe Biden and leftist-controlled federal agencies continue their assault on the Second Amendment, we refuse to stand idly by and let them harass law-abiding Americans,” Brown said.
