Anti-Gun Dems in Congress Think They’re Clever, But We See Exactly What They’re Doing

Not that anyone is really surprised, but gun control activists, especially those on Capitol Hill, love a good antigun bill. Every Congressional session, Democrat lawmakers attempt to ban so-called “assault weapons” or impose “universal background checks.” However, they aren’t always quite so brash in their efforts. They try with more subtle gun control bills that may even appear to be gun-neutral on the outside.

U.S. Reps. André Carson (D-Ind.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) recently introduced H.R. 4487, the Gun Safety Incentive Act. In part, the bill promotes safe gun storage practices by providing a federal tax credit for individuals who purchase certified firearm safes and secure storage devices. But also included in the bill is language that would empower a federal agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, to “promote best practices” for safe storage and require certain firearms to be sold with additional labeling and packaging. The last part of the bill would provide taxpayer-funded grants to communities to “implement strategies to encourage safe storage.”

It’s not a far leap from “encouragement” by a federal agency to becoming a “requirement.” The last four years of the Biden administration demonstrated what happens when an antigun administration wields governmental authority to suppress firearm ownership.

It’s another example of activists pushing an agenda that would leave law-abiding Americans hindered and unable to access their firearm quickly in a time of need while also mandating that manufacturers change their packaging labels, pushing extra costs on small businesses, manufacturers and sellers.

No one needs new laws that make it more difficult to lawfully purchase a firearm while criminals continue to obtain their guns overwhelmingly through theft, the black market and other illicit means.

Don’t be fooled…these gun control legislators are trying to act as if they’re pushing gun safety, but really, they’re trying to limit the Constitutional rights of Americans and their ability to purchase a firearm by adding more hurdles in order to get one. NSSF continues to work with industry partners to oppose these efforts in the states and in the halls of Congress.

Encouraging Safe Storage

In theory, the Democrats’ “Gun Safety Incentive Act” would establish a 10 percent tax credit on certified firearm safes and storage devices through 2030 for those who purchase “certified” firearm safes and secure storage devices. That effort could be a good one – NSSF has supported similar efforts at the federal and state levels, including in Louisiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Texas and Washington.

The problem with H.R. 4487 is the mandates the bill includes beyond the incentives for safe storage purchases. Their bill also directs taxpayer funds to be used by DOJ to impose labeling requirements on “specified handgun, rifle, and shotgun manufacturers” to provide a clear and conspicuous warnings on packaging.

There’s no mention of what firearms would be the focus of DOJ’s requirements, though. One could assume the lawmakers would target modern sporting rifles, or so-called “assault weapons,” or other popular models. And, undoubtedly, the mandated packaging would discourage firearm ownership and compel speech that industry members don’t agree with.

The bill also directs the DOJ to provide taxpayer-funded grants to be used for the development, implementation, and evaluation of these DOJ-aligned safe firearm storage assistance programs, the community-based efforts that promote secure storage practices through education, outreach and local partnerships. That portion could easily be abused by local gun control activists in antigun state governments and metropolitan areas to push strict gun control policies on law-abiding citizens, all while using taxpayer money to infringe on the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans.

Hard pass. These are just more limitations backed by antigun politicians and gun control activists who don’t want guns in the hands of anyone. As important as gun safety is, those particular barriers will not create safer communities.

Real Solutions

NSSF is passionate about safety, as demonstrated through its Real Solutions, Safer Communities efforts. Safe and responsible gun ownership is – and always has been – a firearm industry priority. No one wants a firearm in the hands of someone who shouldn’t have one – not a criminal and especially not an unsupervised child. That’s why the firearm industry has taken proactive steps to prevent just that; and they do a superb job at it.

NSSF, through Project ChildSafe and its partnerships with more than 15,000 law enforcement organizations in all 50 states and five U.S. territories, has distributed over 41 million firearm safety kits, which include cable-style locks. Free of charge – no questions asked. That’s in addition to the gun locking devices firearm manufacturers include in the box with the firearm that’s shipped from the factory. In total, that’s well over 100 million gun lock to ensure firearms remain secure.

But safe firearm storage isn’t the only way NSSF promotes keeping firearms out of the wrong hands to help keep communities safe. It’s a multipronged, and proven, effort that also includes Operation Secure Store – a partner program with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – to educate and help firearm retailers make well-informed security-related decisions at retail locations to deter and prevent thefts. Fix NICS, an effort started by the firearm industry, has successfully changed the law in 16 states and in Congress to get disqualifying background records entered into the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The Don’t Lie for the Other Guy program helps frontline firearm retailers detect and prevent illegal “straw purchases” in their communities. That program is a partnership between NSSF and ATF, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. And NSSF also partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to help encourage “brave conversations” and safe firearm storage to help save lives, especially among the veteran community; and more.

More than 26.2 million Americans have become first-time gun owners in the past five years and the law-abiding gun-owning community has never been safer. While gun control groups continue to push gimmicks and theatrics, the firearm industry will continue highlighting that law-abiding gun ownership is the Constitutional right of every law-abiding American. Safely exercising that right is as American as apple pie and should be celebrated, not restricted.

 

Larry Keane is SVP for Government and Public Affairs, Assistant Secretary and General Counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.