Ernst Protects Iowans’ Second Amendment Rights

DAVENPORT, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined local gun owners at the Davenport Guns & Shooting Club to announce her new bill to protect Iowans’ Second Amendment rights and lawful gun dealers after the Biden administration’s “zero-tolerance” crackdown.

After the roundtable, Ernst got in some target practice at the shooting range.

Click here to download more photos.

Ernst’s Fighting Irrational Regulatory Enforcement to Avert Retailers’ Misfortune (FIREARM) Act prevents the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from shuttering Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) over minor clerical mistakes and allows them to correct self-reported errors.

“The Biden administration’s zero-tolerance policy empowered gun grabbers in Washington to infringe on the Second Amendment and shutter small businesses,” said Ernst. “Iowans spoke loud and clear in November that they were tired of bureaucratic overreach. My FIREARM Act disarms the out-of-control ATF and ensures that the rights of law-abiding gun owners are protected.”

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“For four years, the Biden administration undermined the Second Amendment and weaponized government against law-abiding citizens and small businesses of the lawful firearms industry,” said Issa. “It is now a new day and a different Washington, and that’s why my friend Senator Ernst and I are advancing the FIREARM Act. We can stop the targeting of our citizens and prevent it from ever happening again.”

"It's such a relief to know that Senator Ernst understands and appreciates the importance of the Second Amendment,” said Jeanelle Westrom, Iowa Director for Women for Gun Rights and the owner of Davenport Guns & Shooting Club. “Being a small business owner is hard, and it's even harder when our agencies like the ATF are used as an end run around the Constitution. As the Iowa Director for Women for Gun Rights and the owner of Davenport Guns, I'm proud to stand by Senator Ernst and her FIREARM Act."

“Senator Joni Ernst’s ‘FIREARM’ Act will ensure that future administrations cannot weaponize the ATF as a political gun control tool for special interests,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “Under the Biden administration, the firearm and ammunition industry witnessed the ATF being weaponized to carry out that administration’s extreme antigun policies. That damaged the cooperative relationships between firearm retailers, who are on the frontline preventing illegal straw purchases of firearms, and the ATF, which enforces laws to safeguard our communities. NSSF is thankful for Senator Ernst’s leadership to provide remedies that repair this necessary public trust in our federal agencies.”

Specifically, the FIREARM Act:

• Creates a safe harbor for FFLs to self-report violations, so they can correct any accidental errors;
• Requires the ATF to work collaboratively with FFLs to fix violations and help avoid future violations;
• Addresses the “willfulness” issue by defining it to mean a voluntary, intentional violation of a known legal duty achieved through specific intent or deliberate planning, excludes previous conduct, and creates a rebuttal if the conduct is not willful; and
• Allows for direct judicial review of license revocations to avoid the ATF from serving as both the judge and prosecutor.

Click here to view the bill.

Background:

Because of her tireless commitment to protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners and fighting back against bureaucratic overreach, Senator Ernst earned an “A+” rating from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

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