Lafayette Reporter

Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and 42 other Republican senators have introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution aimed at preventing the Biden administration’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from enforcing a rule that would require anyone selling firearms to register as federal firearm licensees. This move is seen as an effort to protect Second Amendment rights.

Kennedy expressed his concern about the administration's approach towards gun control, stating, “The Biden administration is weaponizing every tool at its disposal against law-abiding gun-owners. Congress should vote to block Pres. Biden’s ATF from unconstitutionally creating new ways to strangle Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”

The contentious rule, titled “Definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms,” would effectively mandate all individuals selling firearms—even small-scale collectors—to register as federal firearm licensees and conduct background checks on their buyers.

Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) is introducing a similar resolution in the House of Representatives. He voiced his opposition to the ATF rule by saying, “The ATF’s ‘engaged in the business’ rule represents President Biden’s latest attempt to institute universal background checks, advance the Left’s radical gun control agenda, and infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment rights. Private citizens simply shouldn’t be forced to jump through unelected, anti-gun bureaucrats’ unconstitutional hurdles to engage in lawful firearms transactions."

In February 2023, Kennedy along with Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and a group of Republican colleagues had urged Attorney General Merrick Garland and ATF Director Steven Dettelbach for clarification on what they perceived as unfair policies towards gun dealers by the Biden administration.

In March 2023, Kennedy had introduced another CRA resolution aimed at preventing enforcement of an anti-Second Amendment pistol brace rule by the ATF. Then in March 2024, Kennedy achieved a victory for veterans by blocking the Biden administration’s Department of Veterans Affairs from unilaterally stripping veterans of their Second Amendment rights.