A spokesman for the Gun Owners of America explains why the illegal registry of guns and gun owners must be stopped.
Even with President Donald Trump in charge, it appears that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives continues to do whatever they wish with their long-standing gun and gun owner registry, according to Gun Owners of America spokesman Stephen Willeford.
Though the agency did recently suggest a change to one of its “out-of-business” records retention rules (out of the 34 overall it introduced), it hasn’t changed much for the better.
The agency currently holds Firearms Records Retention Periods. Previously, under the Biden Administration, it was keeping these records for an infinite period of time. Under the rule however, that’s changed – but only to 20 to 30 years after the firearms transaction.
What’s worse, even after that period of time passes, the ATF suggested that it could keep these records for yet another 30 years.
The GOA, a group that firmly believes in the right for everyone to bear arms, noted, “(The) ATF should adopt the shortest possible retention period permitted by law. Ideally, ZERO years.” With that, it has asked its members to sound off with the federal register, in an effort to be heard.
“Under the current framework, records may effectively be retained for generations—first by dealers, and then by ATF after a dealer goes out of business,” the group noted. “A return to the status-quo is not good enough for gun owners.”
Stephen Willeford, the spokesman for the group and the “hero with a gun” in the 2017 situation in Sutherland Springs, joins us now to discuss this matter further. Welcome, Stephen!
Q&A:
- Aren’t records such as these illegal to possess to begin with? Why would the ATF push its luck by withholding said records against private gun owners?
- Even with this change, it expects to hold onto these records for a lengthy period of time. Is the agency really that concerned about who owns guns in the United States?
- What about Donald Trump? Isn’t he aware with what his own agency is doing when it comes to these records? Or is he simply busy with other matters (like Iran) to address it?
- What about the civil office that Trump recently opened? Could they take a closer look into the situation? Or can it even do anything about it?
- You’ve mentioned that the members of the GOA, as well as other private gun owners, could make a difference with the federal registry. Tell us more about how they can do so.
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. He is the author of the book A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
CONTACT: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or by email Jerry McGlothlin at bookings@specialguests.com.
