The Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Pat Fallon (R-Texas) and the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) will hold a joint hearing examining the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) actions aimed at curtailing the ability of lawful gun owners to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
On January 31, 2023, the ATF issued a final rule to redefine a firearm with an attached stabilizing brace as a short-barreled rifle, contradicting an ATF determination made over a decade ago during the Obama Administration. The hearing will examine the impact of the final rule and the potential harm it will have on millions of law-abiding gun owners. This rulemaking comes in addition to other actions taken by ATF to chill the exercise of Second Amendment rights.
“The Biden Administration is weaponizing the ATF to advance a left-wing gun control agenda without regard for fundamental fairness or constitutional rights,” said Subcommittee Chairmen Fallon and Biggs. “The ATF has engaged in a host of practices that seek to curtail the ability of lawful gun owners to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Because of the ATF’s final rule, millions of lawful gun owners will be required to obtain a special registration, surrender, or destroy their stabilizing brace by the compliance date or will face severe criminal penalties merely as a result of this regulatory change. Republicans on both subcommittees stand ready to defend Americans’ constitutional rights and this hearing will provide us with the tools and information to do so.”
WHAT: Joint hearing titled “ATF’s Assault on the Second Amendment: When is Enough Enough?”
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 2023
TIME: 10:00a.m. ET
LOCATION: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
WITNESSES:
- Amy Swearer, Senior Legal Fellow, Heritage Foundation
- Alex Bosco, Founder and Inventor of the Stabilizing Brace
- Matthew Larosiere, Partner, Zermay-Larosiere Law Group
Original source can be found here.